2007–2008 Cork players' strike

Sports labour dispute in Gaelic games January 2025 October 2013 2007–2008 Cork players' strike Ireland 10 December 2007 – 18 February 2008 Strikes and protests From December 2007 until February 2008, a dispute between the Cork County Board and its Gaelic footballers and hurlers occurred in Ireland. It led to the footballers and hurlers refusing to play for the Cork County Board. The cause of the strike was the issue of deciding who should pick the senior teams' selectors.http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/gaelic-football/cork-players-go-on-strike-over-selection-row-1243627.html 8 February 2008 Cork players go on strike over selection row Irish Independent 10 December 2007 The players believed the manager should pick the selectors. However, the county board picked the selectors. With the appointment of Teddy Holland as manager, the players also refused to play under his tutorship since he accepted the job during their time of strike.http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/teddy-holland-in-profile-1274660.html Teddy Holland in profile 8 February 2008 Irish Independent 26 January 2008 The strike drew comment from the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern,Ahern: both sides need to keep heads http://www.irishexaminer.com/text/story.asp?j=cwojaueygbojeyau&p=z5x47xxx&n=25047076 8 February 2008June 2016 and was the first time in the history of the Gaelic Athletic Association that a strike caused inter-county fixtures not to be played.http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0218/hollandt.html Holland sacked by Cork officials 18 February 2008 RTÉ News 18 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219220328/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0218/hollandt.html 19 February 2008 live The strike was the second strike by Cork players in five years. It began on 10 December 2007http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2007/1210/cork.html Cork in crisis 18 February 2008 RTÉ News 10 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219091406/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2007/1210/cork.html 19 February 2008 dead and ended on 18 February 2008http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/gaa/2008/0218/1203093495987.html Holland sacked by county board 18 February 2008 – 97 days after the first threat of strike actionhttp://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2007/1113/cork.html Strike action threatened in Cork 18 February 2008 RTÉ News 13 November 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080229110717/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2007/1113/cork.html 29 February 2008 dead – and was declared over on 15 February 2008.http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/mheysnauojkf/ Holland and Cork selectors resign 15 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080220060829/http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/mheysnauojkf/ 20 February 2008 live However Holland was not fired until 18 February.http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=89622 Holland still in (very) hot seat 17 February 2008http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article831795.ece Cork's panel closer to a strike 5 February 2008 London The Times 17 November 2002 Richard Ford Philippe NaughtonSeptember 2024 medicmedic Kieran Mulvey, chairman of the Labour Relations Commission, acted as arbitrator between the players and county board. Strike build-up 16 October: Cork clubs vote to change how selectors are picked. This is confirmed by a second vote on 20 October.http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/cork-strike-timeline-1275239.html CORK STRIKE TIMELINE 12 February 2008 Irish Independent 27 January 2008 8 November: Billy Morgan resigns as manager because he is no longer allowed to choose selectors for his team.http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/gaa/2007/1108/1194222937420.html Morgan says no to Cork return 10 February 2008 The Irish Times 13 November: The players issue their first threat of strike action and are supported in doing so by the Gaelic Players Association.http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/gaa/2007/1113/1194550269007.html GPA backs proposed Cork strike 10 February 2008 The Irish Times 16 November: The players write to their clubs highlighting their objections to the board's decision and state that they are seeking to resolve the issue of appointing a new manager.http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/story.asp?j=101703030&p=yxy7x333z&t=gaa Players give the write direction 10 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219110617/http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/story.asp?j=101703030&p=yxy7x333z&t=gaa 19 February 2008 dead 21 November: Teddy Holland is appointed as team manager along with selectors Teddy McCarthy, Liam Hodnett, Diarmuid O'Donovan and Mick O'Loughlin.http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0219/breaking8.htm Holland sacked by county board 19 February 2008 The Irish Times 2 February 2008http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/gaelic-football/teddy-holland-appointed-as-new-cork-manager-1225974.html Teddy Holland appointed as new Cork manager 10 February 2008 Irish Independent 21 November 2007 23 November: The footballers meet with Holland to inform him that their dispute is with the means of choosing selectors and not with his appointment.http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2007/1124/cork.html?rss Cork squads to meet in selector dispute 10 February 2008 RTÉ News 24 November 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219143422/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2007/1124/cork.html?rss 19 February 2008 dead 24 November: The football and hurling panels plan to discuss the appointment of Teddy Holland and to threaten possible strike action. 3 December: Cork players' spokesman, Donal Óg Cusack, gives notice of the players intention to strike.Cusack warns Cork players will walk away http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=86518 8 February 2008 9 December: Former Cork hurling captain, Mark Landers, requests that the GAA intervene to help resolve the dispute but the GAA declare their neutrality. 12 December: The footballers take a team holiday (largely paid for and organised by themselves). Events of the strike On 10 December, the players officially went on strike.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7137075.stm Cork senior squads go on strike 21 February 2008 BBC News 10 December 2007 The county board and the players held the first of a series of meetings to try resolve the strike ten days later.http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2007/1220/cork.html No resolution in Cork players' strike 10 February 2008 RTÉ News 20 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080130040856/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2007/1220/cork.html 30 January 2008 live On 9 January, the hurlers confirmed they would not play in the Waterford Crystal Cup and the county was forced to give a walkover to Limerick IT.http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0109/cork.html Cork players refusing to play 8 January 2008 RTÉ News 9 January 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080112034435/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0109/cork.html 12 January 2008 dead Later in the month (23 January), Teddy Holland issued a press statement announcing he would not resign.http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/mheyojgbqlql/rss2/ Resignation not an option for Cork football manager 8 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080220130007/http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/mheyojgbqlql/rss2/ 20 February 2008 live More than 100 club delegates voted unanimously in support of Holland at a county board meeting held on 30 January.http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/story.asp?j=244705954&p=z447x666x&t=gaa Cork County Board firmly behind Holland 10 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219110622/http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/story.asp?j=244705954&p=z447x666x&t=gaa 19 February 2008 dead Three days earlier (27 January), in a bid to resolve their issues, the players and the county board had held 18 hours of talks, chaired by Kieran Mulvey, which ended in stalemate.http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0127/cork.html No resolution in Cork players' strike 10 February 2008 RTÉ News 27 January 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080130125841/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0127/cork.html 30 January 2008 dead Mulvey had been asked to chair the talks by Nickey Brennan, the president of the Gaelic Athletic Association.http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/01/31/GAA-Cork-strike-feature/ Cork players deserve our support 10 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080403005505/http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/01/31/GAA-Cork-strike-feature/ 3 April 2008 dead In the week leading up to the National Football League game against Meath, the Cork county board were unable to guarantee a team would be available to play the game. Consequently, on 30 January the game was postponed.http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/gaelic-football/gaa-confirm-that-meath-v-cork-wont-happen-on-saturday-1277737.html GAA confirm that Meath v Cork won't happen on Saturday 8 February 2008 Irish Independent 30 January 2008 The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, called on both sides to resolve the dispute on 5 February and further talks between Kieran Mulvey and Páraic Duffy, the Director General of the GAA, were held.http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/article3405803.ece https://archive.today/20080219153148/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/article3405803.ece dead 19 February 2008 Duffy bids to broker peace in Cork 7 February 2008 On 7 February the players refused a solution offered by the county board and it looked likely that Cork would be removed from both the National Hurling League and National Football Leaguehttp://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/cork-players-say-no-1283545.html Cork players say no 8 February 2008 Irish Independent Martin Breheny 7 February 2008 and be relegated for the following season. It was claimed that under GAA rules that if a team was unable to take part in two league games that they should be disqualified from the league.http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/cork-can-go-to-hell-1285855.html Cork can go to hell 22 February 2008 Irish Independent 9 February 2008http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cork-descend-into-civil-war-1280211.html Cork descend into civil war 22 February 2008 Irish Independent 3 February 2008http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0208/cork.html Cork players furious at 'spin' 22 February 2008 RTÉ News 8 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080211125445/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0208/cork.html 11 February 2008 dead A second football match was to be played on 16 Februaryhttp://www.gaa.ie/page/allianz_nfl_2008_fixtures.html Allianz National Football League 2008 10 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080207172145/http://www.gaa.ie/page/allianz_nfl_2008_fixtures.html 7 February 2008 dead while the second hurling game was due on 17 February.http://www.gaa.ie/page/allianz_nhl_2008_fixtures.html Allianz Hurling League 2008 10 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080129202318/http://www.gaa.ie/page/allianz_nhl_2008_fixtures.html 29 January 2008 dead On 8 February, the Cork players reacted negatively to what they thought was an attempt by the county board to split the footballers and hurlershttp://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/story.asp?j=245654112&p=z456548y8&t=gaa Cork 'furious' at attempt to 'split players' 10 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219110628/http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/story.asp?j=245654112&p=z456548y8&t=gaa 19 February 2008 dead when a press release claimed the players would accept Holland as manager.http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/gaa/2008/0207/1201903706561.html Cork release details of rejected document 10 February 2008 The Irish Times The following day Roy Keane compared the 2002 strike to the Saipan incident and warned about players becoming too powerful.http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=54862-qqqx=1.asp Keane: 2002 strike was Cork GAA's Saipan 9 February 2008 https://archive.today/20080212083907/http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=54862-qqqx=1.asp 12 February 2008 dead A poll showed that 56 percent of fans supported the strike and 70 percent believed the actions of the board damaged Cork's chance of winning All-Ireland championships that year.http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0209/cork.html Poll shows support for Cork players 12 February 2008 RTÉ News 9 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080212193622/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0209/cork.html 12 February 2008 dead The Cork county board, on 12 February, voted 96–13 in favour of entering binding arbitration with the players in a bid to save the teams being disqualified from the leagueshttp://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0212/cork.html 13 February 2008 Cork board agree to arbitration (RTÉ) RTÉ News 12 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080213163020/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0212/cork.html 13 February 2008 dead http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/02/12/GAA-Cork-story/?facets/sport-space/ireland-locale/ Cork county board agrees to arbitration (Setanta) 13 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219102240/http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/02/12/GAA-Cork-story/?facets%2Fsport-space%2Fireland-locale%2F 19 February 2008 dead and Nickey Brennan called for the dispute to end, "however it is achieved."http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5i1vF0YhF4TOgyDEwVOVV7cDFXFRQ Brennan calls for Cork resolution 10 February 2008June 2016 medicmedic On 14 February, the players met with Mulvey and agreed to accept the arbitration in an attempt to end the strike, then in its 95th day.http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=55349-qqqx=1.asp Arbitration deal brings GAA strike to an end 15 February 2008 https://archive.today/20080218114011/http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=55349-qqqx=1.asp 18 February 2008 dead Outcome of the arbitration The outcome of arbitration on 15 February was as follows: Teddy Holland and his selectors were to resign from their positions. The Cork players committed not to engage in future strikes. A new management committee would be made up of five county board members and two players. The new management would be able to pick their own selectors.http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/02/20/GAA-Counihan-set-to-name-selectors/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/gaa/ Counihan names Rebel selectors 22 February 2008 June 2016 Last days of the strike Many newspapershttp://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/article3436799.ece https://archive.today/20080217231133/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/article3436799.ece dead 17 February 2008 Peace breaks out in Cork at last 17 February 2008http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=89599 BREAKING NEWS: Holland gone as strike ends 17 February 2008http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/gaa/2008/0215/1202938442481.html?via=mr Holland to go as peace breaks out 17 February 2008 The Irish Times declared the strike over on 15 February after the players accepted the outcome of the arbitration and also declared that Teddy Holland had resigned. However, the GAA confirmed that the Cork-versus-Dublin football and Cork-versus-Waterford hurling games that were due to take place were to be called off.http://www.hill16.ie/viewstoryhill16.asp?mainheading=Word+on+The+Hill&id=9549&viewstory=yes Dubs v Cork NFL clash off 27 February 2008 June 2016 The county board called an emergency meeting to discuss the recommendations of the arbitration and especially the recommendation from Mulvey that Holland should resign.http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/02/15/GAA-Cork-county-board-meeting/?facets/sport-space/ireland-locale/gaa/ Cork board call emergency meeting 16 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219102252/http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/02/15/GAA-Cork-county-board-meeting/?facets%2Fsport-space%2Fireland-locale%2Fgaa%2F 19 February 2008 dead By 16 February, uncertainty had emerged over the status of the strike.http://www.irishnews.com/appnews/2008/2/597/5776/580340_336794514601Hollandre.html Holland resignation will end Cork strike 17 February 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160123031334/http://www.irishnews.com/appnews/2008/2/597/5776/580340_336794514601Hollandre.html 23 January 2016 http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0216/cork.html Cork board holding emergency meeting 16 February 2008 RTÉ News 16 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219154858/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0216/cork.html 19 February 2008 dead While the county board and Holland met to discuss the issues,http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0217/cork.html Cork Co Board to meet again 17 February 2008 RTÉ News 17 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080218054837/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0217/cork.html 18 February 2008 dead an expected vote by the county board to remove Holland was never called.http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/sport/hurling/article3440178.ece https://web.archive.org/web/20080219123009/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/sport/hurling/article3440178.ece dead 19 February 2008 Cork Co Board to meet Holland today as row drags on 17 February 2008 Holland meanwhile issued a statement that didn't indicate if he had stepped down and stated that he was neutral saying: I am my own man and I am proud to be a Cork football man. Holland said the claim that six people had refused the job before him was false and there was no threat of strike when he took the job.http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/story.asp?j=246485780&p=z46486486&t=gaa Holland issues statement 16 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219110633/http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/story.asp?j=246485780&p=z46486486&t=gaa 19 February 2008 dead However, a statement in support of the strike had been issued by the Gaelic Players Association on 13 November 2007, a week before Holland took the job. On 17 February it was clear Holland had not resigned or been fired by the county board and that the strike continued. The county board issued a statement saying that they would meet on Monday 18 February to end the strike.http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0217/cork1.html Cork dispute nearing resolution 17 February 2008 RTÉ News 17 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219154903/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0217/cork1.html 19 February 2008 dead The strike officially ended on 18 February – 97 days after the first threat of strike – when, as expected,http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=89706 Holland to be voted out tonight 18 February 2008https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/7250242.stm End in sight to Cork GAA crisis 18 February 2008 BBC News 18 February 2008 the county board voted 89–19 to fire Teddy Holland and his selectors, who refused to step down. Aftermath of the strike The seven-man panel appointed to help find the next manager began its search as soon as Holland had been removed, and included players Nicholas Murphy and Derek Kavanagh.http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5goCp_30myaGotvxxRdHjkcE2yFeA Cork appoint player representatives 18 February 2008June 2016 medicmedic Conor Counihan was appointed Cork's new football managerhttp://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/02/19/GAA-New-Cork-boss/ Counihan named new Cork boss 18 February 2008June 2016 with the right to name his own selectors.http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/02/20/GAA-Counihan-set-to-name-selectors/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/gaa/ Counihan names Rebel selectors 22 February 2008June 2016 On 20 February, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín said that, had the strike carried on beyond 18 February, he and others would have resigned from inter-county hurling and football.http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/02/20/GAA-Sean-Og-on-Cork-dispute/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/gaa/ Ó Hailpín: My career was nearly over 21 February 2008June 2016 Cork Under 21 footballer, Sean Cahalane, claimed that the Under 21 panel would not have played in place of the seniors if they had been asked by the county board.http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/u21s-wouldnt-have-filled-in-1294736.html U-21s 'wouldn't have filled in' 22 February 2008 Irish Independent Donnchadh Boyle 21 February 2008 On 19 February, the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) decided not to remove Cork from the football and hurling leagues, but instead awarded the points from the missed games to their opponents and fined the county board €400 for each game missed.http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Other-sports/2008/02/19/GAA-Cork-points-forfeited/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/ CCCC gives Cork points to opponents 19 February 2008June 2016 Kilkenny county board offered to play their hurling match with Cork and the Cork county board requested CCCC approve the game.http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=89815 Cork request green light 20 February 2008http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/story.asp?j=246869138&p=z46869844 Kilkenny offer Cork second chance in NHL clash 20 February 2008June 2016http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/gaa/2008/0221/1203471529359.html Kilkenny gesture to Cork rejected 21 February 2008 The Irish Times However the CCCC had already awarded Kilkenny the point and would not allow the game to take place. It emerged that Cork couldn't have been removed from the leagues as there was no such rule.http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/weighing-up-the-options-for-the--rebel-cause-1294739.html Weighing up the options for the Rebel cause 22 February 2008 Irish Independent 21 February 2008 Cork went on to win their first football and hurling matches after the strike, beating Dublin's hurlers 2–16 to 3–18http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0309/dublin_cork.html Dublin 2–16 Cork 3–18 16 March 2008 RTÉ News 9 March 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080313021623/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0309/dublin_cork.html 13 March 2008 livehttp://www.hill16.ie/viewstoryhill16.asp?mainheading=Word+on+The+Hill&id=9693&viewstory=yes Cork finish with flourish to deflate Dubs 16 March 2008 June 2016 and Roscommon's footballers 0–15 to 1–14http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/gaa_results_footballleague.html 6 March 2008 Allianz National Football League RTÉ News https://web.archive.org/web/20080219063226/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/gaa_results_footballleague.html 19 February 2008 live However, the decision to award the teams that Cork did not play victory points had a knock-on effect for other teams in both leagues. Roscommonhttp://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0316/cork.html Roscommon reopen Cork player strike row 16 March 2008 RTÉ News 16 March 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080320234727/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2008/0316/cork.html 20 March 2008 live and Wexfordhttp://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=91468 Wexford fuming over handling of Cork crisis 19 March 2008 both lodged unsuccessful appeals against the decision. Wexford's case was taken to the Disputes Resolution Authority but was rejected.http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=93918 Wexford board accuses GAA of breaking rules 29 April 2008 Hurling league controversy When the National Hurling League 2008 ended, the Cork and Waterford hurling teams both finished on level points. The CCCC ruled that the teams had to play each other in a play-off and that scoring difference could not be used to separate the teams. (The play-off was to determine which team entered the semi-final and which entered the quarter-final.http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=91778 Playoff for Cork and Waterford 26 March 2008) However, both Dublin and Wexford also finished on level points and, having both played Cork, the CCCC ruled the team's standings at the end of the league could be used and thus scoring difference would apply, thus relegating Wexford.http://www.hoganstand.com/Dublin/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=91777 Wexford lose out 26 March 2008 This lead Wexford's chairman to accuse the GAA and the CCCC of "making the rules up as they go along".http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/wexford-chairman-accuses-gaa-of-making-up-rules-as-they-go-along-1327336.html Wexford chairman accuses GAA of 'making up rules as they go along' 26 March 2008 Irish Independent Colm Keys 26 March 2008 See also 2008–2009 Cork senior hurling team strike References Category:2007 in Gaelic football Category:2007 in hurling Category:2007 labor disputes and strikes Category:2008 in Gaelic football Category:2008 in hurling Category:2008 labor disputes and strikes Players' strike Category:Gaelic games controversies Strike Strike Category:Labour disputes in Ireland Category:Sports labor disputes