WASHINGTON - The NFL players union won a key court ruling concerning television contract money on Tuesday as it and the owners stage crisis talks this week to try and avert a work stoppage.

The union and the owners met for six hours on Tuesday but, with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire in a couple of days, time is running out for both sides.

In a ruling on Tuesday, US District Court judge David Doty in Minneapolis sided with the union by overruling a February 1 decision to reject the NFLPA's request that $4 billion in 2011 payments from networks to the league be placed in escrow if there is a lockout.

The union had accused the league of structuring television contracts agreed to in 2009 and 2010 so owners would be guaranteed money even if there was a work stoppage in 2011.

Talks will continue on Wednesday with union president Kevin Mawae joining the latest bargaining session.

Billionaire owners and multi-millionaire players have been unable to agree on how to divide $9 billion in annual revenues.

After a four-day break following seven days in a row of talks, both sides returned to the negotiating table along with a non-binding federal mediator who characterized talks last week as having made slight progress but with strong differences remaining over major issues.

Owners want to boost the regular season from 16 to 18 games a team, which would boost income for both sides but add wear and tear for players already concerned about career longevity and safety issues in the sport.

Players seek greater benefits for players after their careers while owners want a rookie wage scale.

NFL Players Association leaders have expressed concern the NFL clubs could impose a lockout as early as Friday.

But the union could also decide to decertify itself as the bargaining unit for players, which would halt talks and send players to court to try and secure a deal, setting the stage for a protracted legal fight with the NFL before the issues are settled.

The NFL has not had a labor shutdown since 1987 when replacement players crossed picket lines to play for three games.

Preseason games typically are not played until August with the regular season starting in September, so there would be nearly six months for issues to be solved before the prospect of a shortened season looms.

The NFL is not the only US sports league looking at union issues this year. The NBA's labor deal expires at the end of June and Major League Baseball is looking at a December deadline for a new deal.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 03/03/2011 page22)