Women's National Basketball Association Collective Bargaining Agreement
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WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................1 ARTICLE II RECOGNITION CLAUSE ......................................................................................16 ARTICLE III UNION SECURITY, DUES AND CHECK-OFF ..................................................17 ARTICLE IV MANAGEMENT RIGHTS CLAUSE....................................................................19 ARTICLE V STANDARD PLAYER CONTRACT .....................................................................20 ARTICLE VI FREE AGENCY .....................................................................................................47 ARTICLE VII SALARY CAP, LEAGUE-WIDE GUARANTEE, AND MINIMUM TEAM SALARY....................................................................................................65 ARTICLE VIII ROOKIE SCALE .................................................................................................83 ARTICLE IX MERIT BONUSES .................................................................................................84 ARTICLE X BENEFITS ...............................................................................................................85 ARTICLE XI PLAYER-RELATED EXPENSES.........................................................................93 ARTICLE XII REVENUE SHARING ..........................................................................................99 ARTICLE XIII PLAYER ELIGIBILITY AND WNBA DRAFT ...............................................105 ARTICLE XIV PLAYER CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE .......................................................114 ARTICLE XV CIRCUMVENTION ...........................................................................................120 ARTICLE XVI ANTI-COLLUSION PROVISIONS .................................................................128 ARTICLE XVII TRAINING AND VETERAN CAMPS ...........................................................138 ARTICLE XVIII OFF-SEASON PLAY .....................................................................................139 ARTICLE XIX OFF-SEASON TOURS AND TOURNAMENTS ............................................140 ARTICLE XX PHYSICAL CONDITION, MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND INJURIES ..142 ARTICLE XXI ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM.................................................................................149 ARTICLE XXII GRIEVANCE AND ARBITRATION .............................................................150 i ARTICLE XXIII PROCEDURES FOR THE RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES UNDER ARTICLES VI, VII, XII, XIII, XV, AND XVI .......................................161 ARTICLE XXIV PROMOTIONAL APPEARANCES AND MEDIA ......................................165 ARTICLE XXV MANDATORY PROGRAMS .........................................................................169 ARTICLE XXVI LICENSING, PLAYER MARKETING, COMMERCIAL APPEARANCES, PLAYERS ASSOCIATION MARKETING, PICTURES AND APPAREL ..................................................................170 ARTICLE XXVII BROADCAST AND TELECAST RIGHTS .................................................177 ARTICLE XXVIII MUTUAL RESERVATION OF RIGHTS...................................................178 ARTICLE XXIX TEAM RULES ................................................................................................179 ARTICLE XXX RIGHT OF SET-OFF .......................................................................................180 ARTICLE XXXI SAVINGS CLAUSE .......................................................................................182 ARTICLE XXXII PLAYER AGENTS .......................................................................................183 ARTICLE XXXIII EXPANSION, CONTRACTION, ROSTERS, NUMBER OF GAMES .....185 ARTICLE XXXIV MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL AGREEMENTS ..........................189 ARTICLE XXXV PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO CANADIAN EMPLOYMENT.........191 ARTICLE XXXVI PLAYER ADVISORY PANEL ...................................................................194 ARTICLE XXXVII INTEGRATION, ENTIRE AGREEMENT, INTERPRETATION AND CHOICE OF LAW ..................................................................................195 ARTICLE XXXVIII TERM OF AGREEMENT ........................................................................197 ARTICLE XXXIX NO-STRIKE AND NO-LOCKOUT PROVISIONS ...................................198 ARTICLE XL OLYMPIC HIATUS ............................................................................................200 ARTICLE XLI OTHER ...............................................................................................................203 EXHIBIT 1 STANDARD PLAYER CONTRACT ....................................................................205 EXHIBIT 2 WNBA ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM ........................................................................226 EXHIBIT 3 NOTICE OF BONA FIDE EXCLUSIVE ENDORSEMENT AGREEMENT ......274 EXHIBIT 4 CORE SERVICE ....................................................................................................275 ii EXHIBIT 5 WNBA ROOKIE SCALE.......................................................................................276 EXHIBIT 6 OFFER SHEET .......................................................................................................284 EXHIBIT 7 FIRST REFUSAL EXERCISE NOTICE ...............................................................285 EXHIBIT 8 CORE PLAYER DESIGNATION NOTICE..........................................................286 2008 TRANSITION RULES SIDE LETTER ............................................................................ 287 RATIFICATION SIDE LETTER ............................................................................................... 289 AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO GROUP LICENSE AGREEMENT .............................. 290 MUTUAL RELEASES AND COVENANTS NOT TO SUE .................................................... 295 iii ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (a) “Additional Marketing and Promotional Compensation” means the compensation in U.S. dollars that is paid or payable to a player pursuant to a WNBA Marketing and Promotional Agreement or a Team Marketing and Promotional Agreement. (b) “Agreement” means this Collective Bargaining Agreement entered into on March 5, 2014. (c) “Authorized WNBA Footwear Supplier” (or “Authorized Footwear Supplier”) means an entity granted the right by WNBA Enterprises to outfit one or more WNBA players with logo-identified basketball footwear to be worn during WNBA games. (d) “Base Salary” means the salary that is set forth in Exhibit 1 to a Player Contract that is paid or payable in U.S. dollars to a WNBA player (including players whose Player Contracts have been terminated) for rendering services under such Contract. (e) “Bona Fide Exclusive Endorsement Agreement” means a binding agreement between a player and a Bona Fide Licensee authorizing or granting the Bona Fide Licensee the right to use the Player Attributes of such player exclusively on or in connection with a product or service, pursuant to which the player receives at least five thousand dollars ($5,000) annually. (f) “Bona Fide Licensee” means an entity that (i) was, prior to entering into a Bona Fide Exclusive Endorsement Agreement, regularly engaged in the business of making or selling the products or services that are covered by such Bona Fide Exclusive Endorsement Agreement with the intention of earning a profit from such business, (ii) is commencing the business of making or selling the products or services covered by a Bona Fide Exclusive Endorsement Agreement, within one year of the player's execution thereof, on a bona fide basis with the intention of earning a profit from such business or (iii) was, prior to entering into a Bona Fide Exclusive Endorsement Agreement, a bona fide tax exempt charitable organization that is making or selling the products or services covered by a Bona Fide Exclusive Endorsement Agreement for a legitimate charitable purpose and continues as a tax exempt charitable organization for the term of such Bona Fide Exclusive Endorsement Agreement. In the event of a dispute as to whether any license agreement entered into by a player is a Bona Fide Exclusive Endorsement Agreement, and not a bad faith attempt to defeat the grant of rights to WNBA Enterprises under this agreement, the burden of proof as to the agreement's bona fide nature shall rest with the player. (g) “Contract” (see “Standard Player Contract”). (h) “Contracting Team” means any Team that, by decision of the WNBA or such Team, ceases operations as a member of the WNBA following the date of this Agreement. (i) “Core Player” means a player so designated in accordance with Article VI, Section 7. (j) “Designated Sponsor Category” means (i) each of the sponsor categories (reasonable in scope) designated by each Team by March 15 prior to each Season and (ii) each of the sponsor categories (reasonable in scope) designated by WNBA Enterprises by March 15 prior to each Season; provided, however, that, the total number of such designations each Season by a Team and WNBA Enterprises will not exceed four (4). (k) “Draft” or “WNBA Draft” means the annual WNBA draft of Rookie players in accordance with Article XIII. 2 (l) “Draft Picks” means First Round Picks, Second Round Picks, and Third Round Picks. (m) “Draft Rookie” (see “Rookie”). (n) “Exception”