Lockouts and Work Stoppages in Professional Sports : Select Analyses

Work stoppages involving professional sports, whether caused by the players going on strike or the owners imposing a lockout, are by their very nature contentious and not always resolved quickly or easily. Major League Baseball has experienced the greatest number of work stoppages (eight), followed by the NFL (five), NHL (four), and NBA (two). While both NBA work stoppages were lockouts, the other three leagues have experienced a combination of strikes and lockouts. Major League Baseball has had five strikes and three lockouts, and the NHL one strike and three lockouts. This book provides an examination of the circumstances of each strike followed by a table that identifies relevant legislative measures, and an overview of Congressional comments and report language regarding the strike, which were drawn from hearings and reports, and remarks made on the House or Senate floor. This information shows the extent of actual, or intended, congressional involvement and how some members viewed congressional involvement in the strike, and a discussion of antitrust exemptions applicable to professional sports is also included.