To Strike or not to Strike

[504coach]

I know I have been flamed by people on this board when I have brought this up in the past.  Technically it is not a strike because we will still be doing TAPPS games.  With what everyone knows now; what would have to happen for you to take part in a work stoppage?  If those events happen what percent of your local chapter do you think would be willing to take part.  I realize that no one wants it to happen.  Does everyone now realize that it might be our only choice?  I am looking forward to the joint statement that may be a starting point. We need to discuss the possibilities and ramifications.  Thoughts? 

[TXMike]

This kind of discussion is not helpful to the process.  Organized "stoppages" are not helpful.  If guys individually decide they can't continue then so be it.  But a planned effort to do that is counterproductive.

[504coach]

Why are they not helpful, please explain?

[rickref]

What would that accomplish?

[TXMike]

Because they are terrible from a PR perspective, especially in a "non-union" state like Texas.and even more so when we are not even at the "final" crisis point yet.

[TexDoc]

This kind of discussion is not helpful to the process.  Organized "stoppages" are not helpful.  If guys individually decide they can't continue then so be it.  But a planned effort to do that is counterproductive.

I agree.  Such an approach would put us and TASO in a no-win situation. 

[DallasLJ]

I disagree.  It sends a strong statement to the silent majority out there that the UIL is in the process of a takeover that is unwarranted and unnecessary.  And it is not a "union" issue.  Each of us is an independent contractor.  If we choose to not work (take) a game, that is a totally reasonable thing to do.  Again, we are not employees of the schools, UIL or TASO.

  If we collectively decline games, what do the AD's, Superintendents and School Board Trustees tell their parents and voters.  That the UIL wanted to take over officiating and we declined their offer.  Not much to get mad at us about.

[TXMike]

It is a much stronger statement if the lack of officials is due to individual decision-making and not an organized effort.

[fleetofoot]

Not going to work. Take your larger chapters that have 40 games a week. That puts 175 - 200 on the field out of 650 in the chapter. You really think those other 450 will not jump at the chance. If I wanted to act like a union person, I would have dropped out of High school and become one.

[Cooter]

  If we collectively decline games, what do the AD's, Superintendents and School Board Trustees tell their parents and voters. 

They will tell them that TASO has gone on strike and your kids will not be able to play sports because of it.  Remember, Superintendents, Athletic Directors and Coaches have made their choice - UIL.  If you want to lose whatever standing TASO has left with these groups, let wind of a proposed strike start making the rounds. 

[Getting Fat]

It is not a strike if I show up to work week 10 and am told I cannot.  That is a lockout.

[Etref]

It is not a strike if I show up to work week 10 and am told I cannot.  That is a lockout.

    

[504coach]

Not going to work. Take your larger chapters that have 40 games a week. That puts 175 - 200 on the field out of 650 in the chapter. You really think those other 450 will not jump at the chance. If I wanted to act like a union person, I would have dropped out of High school and become one.

The last part of that statement is post of the year worthy.

So now the question becomes what percent do you think would support a LOCKOUT?  When I talked about this a year ago I was shot down a lot stronger then it is now.

[jeffreff]

It is not a strike if I show up to work week 10 and am told I cannot.  That is a lockout.

 

[JasonTX]

They will tell them that TASO has gone on strike and your kids will not be able to play sports because of it.  Remember, Superintendents, Athletic Directors and Coaches have made their choice - UIL.  If you want to lose whatever standing TASO has left with these groups, let wind of a proposed strike start making the rounds. 

I attended a TASO meeting in which the president of the AD's association was at and he told us he had no idea that UIL was trying to take over football and his assoc. was against the UIL taking over football.  The Supts. don't really care about officiating.  I know one around here that just voted 'yes' on a UIL questionairre but he didn't have a clue what it was all about.  He claims now that if he would have read what it was about he would not have voted for a takeover.  I suspect this probably took place with the majority of the Supts.  The coaches just want officials and it don't matter if they are UIL or TASO.

[DallasLJ]

I attended a TASO meeting in which the president of the AD's association was at and he told us he had no idea that UIL was trying to take over football and his assoc. was against the UIL taking over football.  The Supts. don't really care about officiating.  I know one around here that just voted 'yes' on a UIL questionairre but he didn't have a clue what it was all about.  He claims now that if he would have read what it was about he would not have voted for a takeover.  I suspect this probably took place with the majority of the Supts.  The coaches just want officials and it don't matter if they are UIL or TASO.

  That's basically my point.  If games start getting missed, the ADs, Superintendents and Board Trustee's will be made aware of the situation and the take over by the UIL, and I suspect will quickly get the UIL to back off.

[ETXZebra]

Talk about a strike or lockout and whatever term you use, is exactly the same thing baseball used last season.  I think all that did was escalate the situation to where it is today.  Coaches, AD’s and Superintendents did not approve of the way baseball handled it, as well as the fans.  They will not stand behind us if we pursue this avenue.

[blindref757]

This is a lock out.  Plain and simple.

Guys, this is our defining moment as an organization.  If we don't stand up to this, we will never be taken seriously and will always get crapped on.

[504coach]

This is a lock out.  Plain and simple.

Guys, this is our defining moment as an organization.  If we don't stand up to this, we will never be taken seriously and will always get crapped on.

Agreed... It is worth the potential of a bad PR nightmare.  Take out some ads in the local papers to get our point out, and go from there.  I would rather make a stand on Oct. 30th then get screwed for the next 30 years.

[Etref]

I think most of you will recognize that I am an opponent of any UIL takeover.

That said, I think we need to wait for the joint statement to come out and see what it says. Then, if we still do not agree we can make our choices.


Either they agree on a heck of alot and it is taking time to write it all down or they do not agree on much and are trying to find something to write!

[fencewire]

nothing like putting the cart before the horse.


So all of you guys that are talking "strike" and "lockout" are saying, that if all you have to do is "register" with the UIL and tell them that you are calling football, no fees from them, TASO is still alive and well your chapter is still TASO, your money still goes to TASO, training is still done by TASO, etc...  That you are going to tell them to stick it, not "register" thereby throwing the last week of the season into a frenzy?

Really?  Really?

I fully understand that they (UiL) have not been exactly upfront during this whole process, I also fully understand that they may change their mind the next time the wind blows, but there is plenty of time to see how everything shakes out for the 2011 season.  No one is holding a gun to anyones head for 2011, if you don't like it, bow out... but to talk strike and lockout for the 2010 season, on the last week of the season?  I would say at that point, the thoughts are no longer with the kids and anytime you say that you are "doing it for the kids" or "doing it for the love of the game" is pretty much a BS copout.

How would you like to explain to some Sr that his last football game won't get to be played because it isn't important enough to cover and that is because you wouldn't fill out a "registration" card... (I have not seen the UiL form, so I don't know what they ask for in the way of information.)  Exactly how are we going to win that PR battle?

I am sorry I feel that way, but when I started the season I signed up to call the games on my schedule... To me, that means, if I have take off from work early, I do it, if I have to buy some extra gear, then I buy some extra gear, at this point, for this season, to me this is pretty much the same thing.

[504coach]

In my original post I stated, "What would have to happen to take part in a work stoppage?"  I did not say let's do one.  It would suck for the Sr's this year but if the UIL gets its way it will suck for 1000's of future players as well. 

[Cooter]

My crew committed to the coach that drafted us for week 10 at the beginning of the season.  We will not go back on our word - for ANY reason.

[504coach]

My crew committed to the coach that drafted us for week 10 at the beginning of the season.  We will not go back on our word - for ANY reason.

As did mine.  We are not backing out the UIL is adding another stipulation on us participating that was not part of the orignal contract.  My crew is going to show up.  If they tell us we have to sign up with the UIL then I will show them the contract I have to officiate that game and have them escort us out of the stadium if they do not want us to participate.  At that point it is on them not on us.  They are screwing over kids and breaking contracts not me.

[blindref757]

I don't think we have any splainin to do.  The Sr.'s can get their explanation from Timmons as to why he locked us out by arbitrarily picking Nov. 1st as a deadline.  Why did the UIL pick this date?  They are the ones who are creating the crisis.