NFL Files Charge Against Union With Labor Board

WASHINGTON (AP) The NFL has filed an unfair labor practice charge against its players' union.

In Monday's filing with the National Labor Relations Board, the league is asking that the union be ordered to bargain in good faith. The NFL says the union wants to avoid reaching a new collective bargaining agreement by the early March expiration of the old deal.

The league says the union wants to decertify so it can file an antitrust lawsuit.

The filing with the NLRB says the "union's strategy amounts to an unlawful anticipatory refusal to bargain.''

A statement e-mailed by union spokesman George Atallah says the NFL's "claim has absolutely no merit."

Meanwhile - NFL owners will meet on March 3, the final day of the current collective bargaining agreement. It is possible the owners will call for a lockout of the players if negotiations with the union are not progressing sufficiently.

All 32 owners are expected to be at the meeting in Fort Lauderdale that follows two days of committee meetings that were previously scheduled.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith repeatedly has said he expects a lockout. Talks broke down last week in Washington.

The owners opted out of the CBA in 2008.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)