FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28 , 20 01

NFL WILL USE ALTERNATE OFFICIALS UNTIL NEW CBA IS REACHED

  The NFL informed its game officials union tonight that alternate game officials will be used until a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached.

  NFL games starting this weekend (August 30-September 1) will be officiated by alternate crews of experienced football officials working now in college football or the Arena League.  There are six games on Thursday, August 30; eight games on Friday, August 31; and one game on Saturday, September 1.

  “We have made a very substantial and fair offer to our game officials that would double their compensation by the 2003 season,” Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. “We have worked intensively, including over the past two days, to reach an agreement. But we have a duty to our fans and teams, and we cannot go into the regular season with the threat of a sudden work stoppage by our game officials. Despite our efforts, we remain far apart, and the officials’ negotiators have repeatedly refused to consider a no-strike, no-lockout agreement with the NFL covering the 2001 season.

  “We are confident that these experienced alternate officials will do a good job. Our supervisors – all outstanding NFL officials – will be part of many crews this weekend. It is important for these crews to work together as a unit during the final preseason weekend in order to help prepare them for the regular season.”

  The NFL and the union have been negotiating to replace their recent Collective Bargaining Agreement that expired in March 2001.  The NFL has offered an immediate 40 percent pay increase on regular-season game fees, a doubling of game fees by 2003, and significant increases in pension, 401K and severance benefits.  The union continues to demand across-the-board pay increases of 400 percent or more.

The NFL opens its 82^nd regular season with 15 games on September 9-10.