Why do professional athletes need agents and a union?

Question

It seems to me a union should do what an agent does, why the need for both?

Answer 1

You have put your finger on a rather unique situation, maybe without realizing it. Most unions negotiate a variety of working conditions, including pay scale. For example, I'm in a union, and the union works out how much I get paid, leave, benefits, vacation, etc.

The sports unions don't cover salaries. That's up to every player. The union do negotiate certain terms, such as the number of years until free agency, minimum salary, etc. I guess the Screen Actors' Guild has a similar arrangement in a sense, since Tom Hanks earns more per picture than Donny Most.

As far as agents go, management has a top professional negotiating salaries in most cases. A player is not an expert at such matters. Therefore, he wants someone representing him who knows the business of negotiation. Otherwise, he's at a severe disadvantage. In the pre-agent days, baseball teams often took advantage of the players' ignorance in this area. That wall of mistrust isn't coming down now.

Answer 2

An agent represents one player and negotiates the terms of the player's contract. They are usually a lawyer and a CPA. The union collectively bargains for all players in the union.

Answer 3

i've got stated this till now. the folk who do jobs that certainly exchange the international for the greater useful gets a commission under the ineffective human beings (ineffective interior the grand sceme of issues) like celebrities, activities personalities and so on. the folk who could desire to be paid the main are medical doctors and Nurses, Engineers, instructors and so on. people who certainly advance the international, and enhance the destiny generations. Why does a footballer gets a commission hundreds and hundreds of kilos a 12 months to kick a leather-based ball approximately whilst a nurse who saves lives is suffering to make ends meet? It is senseless.

Answer 4

Good question. As a little kid about 8-9 I remember 2 LA Doger players Sandy Koufax and DonDrysdale held out for more money.

Answer 5

because most arent the smartest people in the world.. its true. look at OJ and Michael Vick... just two more idiots that this stupid country admired like they were gods!!