As rumors swirled about the merger of the XFL and USFL into the new UFL league, the United Steelworkers (USW) and USFLPA dropped its relationship with United Football Players Association (UFPA). The drama all started because of rumors’ of a potential deal between the USFL players in the merged XFL-USFL.
— United Football Players Association (@UnitedFBPlayers) December 22, 2023
Statements from Union Leaders
In response, the USW expressed their disapproval of the UFPA’s actions, citing a lack of involvement in merger negotiations. They emphasized the hard work and sacrifices of the USFL player board in securing player protections. The UFPA’s departure, they stated, does not impact the positive relationship between the league and the Players Union.
Clarity Amidst Confusion
The Vice President of the USFLPA, Devin Gray, stated that the UFPA members were never part of the USFLPA nor involved in CBA negotiations. He criticized the UFPA’s actions as self-serving. The USFLPA continues its work for the players, undeterred by the UFPA’s misleading claims.
United Football Players Association President Kenneth Farrow II released the following video in response and gave a background how the UFPA started, what happened during the USFLPA negotiations and where they are now today. USFL players have a union, XFL players do not. UFPA would like to represent the XFL players.
The Impact on Players
This shake-up comes at a pivotal moment with the anticipated announcement of the XFL-USFL merger. The future role of the unions remains uncertain. While the USFL has worked with the USW, XFL players have rejected this partnership, and there are unconfirmed rumors about joining the NFLPA. Players are waiting to see how these changes will affect them in the new league. We should all know about the impact on the players real soon.
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Mark Perry, a devoted sports journalist and founder of XFL News Hub, has been a key figure in XFL coverage since its 2018 revival. Launching XFL News Hub soon after the league's return announcement, Mark has established the platform as a primary source for comprehensive XFL updates. Renowned for his in-depth knowledge and commitment to sports journalism, Mark actively engages the XFL community, welcoming interactions at mark.perry@xflnewshub.com.