The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

A collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is a written legal contract between an employer and a union representing the employees, usually governing pay and working conditions. In sports, it is therefore an agreement between the league and players, as represented by their players' association, or union. It is generally the league office's role to negotiate this contract on behalf of all its franchises.

Negotiating Points

The terms of a negotiation depend on the parties involved. Typically, team ownership will prioritize minimizing costs; athletes, on the other hand, negotiate for higher salaries and better working conditions. See the list below of the most common negotiating points for both players and owners when agreeing on a CBA. Notice that some items are of equal importance to both parties.

Click or tap on a statement, then on the appropriate category to place it.

Length of contract
Retirement
Advertisement patches on uniforms
Safety standards
Number of games played each season
Working Conditions
Medical benefits
Disciplinary measures
Player salary maximums and minimums

Owner Both Players