The Nation of Procrastination: WWE, Unions, and Linda McMahon

[YOUcanCALLmeCRACK]

This is the stuff I think about when I am supposed to be doing school work...

Linda McMahon recently announced her running for Senate in the 2012 elections, again. If I do remember correctly, she was getting hammered by her competitors because her company classified their talents as independent workers even though they are clearly employees of the WWE. She still has a huge stake in the company.

I am not sure if this is how WWE treats their talents, but many independent workers are not guaranteed many of the same rights as those classified as employees. Unemployment benefits are not given if an independent worker is "future endeavored," paid sick leave, paid vacations, workers compensation (getting paid while your injured), health insurance, and stock options are not give to independent workers. Again, I am not 100% sure on which of these WWE talents receive, but I know it is not all of them. However, all employees have these rights.

Currently, we have a storyline in the works where a bunch of disgruntled talents are getting together to form a "union" of sorts to battle WWE's treatment of talent.

I know it maybe a long shot, but do you actually see this storyline as a way to announce or promote the fact that WWE may just start listing their talents as employees and give them all the benefits they deserve? I mean it would make a lot of sense for Linda's run and it would really help out the talents that get hurt. Sure Cena, Orton, and Mysterio can afford health insurance and to be out for a couple of months without work, but I'm sure many of the lower talent can not. It would be kind of a kayfabe thing, but kind of not.

Realistically, I know that this has a 99.9% chance of not happening, but I'm just trying to make some interesting connections here. Better than the old "[insert name here] sucks!" threads. Maybe I'm just THAT tired and THAT delirious. Regardless, would be very interesting angle.

[Russo swerve]

This isnt tna dude

[THEKEVINBRAND]

This isnt tna dude

he's actually right, you think WWE wrestlers get a union or get paid while they're injured? NOPE

[BlazersDozen]

I've actually been thinking about how much talent a new company could snatch right up if they offered workers a union & benefits as being employees. You have to believe that a lot of these guys would bolt for a guaranteed check, medical, dental, vision, 401k, stock options & so on. Sure WWE brings the history but a company like that could lure a lot of midcard guys, hell even some main eventers away.

At the same time, it isn't just WWE's fault. Talent negotiates their contracts. They should fight for those things in negotiations. Not just let themselves be signed away for the quota & then bitch about it.

All in all, maybe they are at least headed to a union since the company is bigger than ever & I have to believe that with all the upgrades & John Cena pulling in money, that they can afford it.

I just hope they pull their heads out because some day there will be a guy with some balls who will challenge their bullshit or the government will step in like they have with sports.

[Y2J___Y2J]

A union or something would be good
And I get where you guys are coming from..

But companies can't offer most of the health benefits stuff.. WHY?
Because your in a job that guys get hurt in every day and every match (not seriously injured) but it hurts..
At least that's my thinking on the subject

[BlazersDozen]

A union or something would be good
And I get where you guys are coming from..

But companies can't offer most of the health benefits stuff.. WHY?
Because your in a job that guys get hurt in every day and every match (not seriously injured) but it hurts..
At least that's my thinking on the subject

If an owner of an NFL team can afford it, then Vince McMahon can afford it. NFL teams have 55 guys on the team plus a practice squad, coaches, medical staff, etc so there isn't much difference IMO.

But to argue against myself its all owners for all players I believe so maybe in the best interest of wrestlers, the wrestlers should create a union that Dixie Carter, Vince McMahon, etc have to respect.

[Viperfish]

I don't know how much everyone on the roster makes but look, when you're making over $100,000 a year(which is a safe bet for many on the roster as a worst case scenario), or even making millions, you should be living realistically because it doesn't last forever. I have no sympathy for guys that don't prepare for the future. Unemployment benefits, no paid sick leave, paid vacation, workers comp, health insurance and all this, when you're making that much money you should be prepared to take care of yourself.

Granted I'm of the opinion that if you get hurt on the job that WWE takes care of it... it would be difficult for me to believe otherwise especially when guys are asked to do things like tables matches and cage matches and all this falderal, and when WWE is willing to pay for drug rehab for current and ex-talent when they don't have to. They put Randy Orton in anger management classes too and Randy said if he did well then WWE would split the bill with him. I don't believe they just leave you high and dry given the above but it's clear they don't do as much as employers would do for employees.

Look at Lanny Poffo. Not a massive success in the industry, he was only in WWF for 7 years mainly as a jobber for stars. A guy like that has lived very comfortably. I saw an interview done with him where he talks about this sort of thing and what happens to people who don't prepare. I heard Triple H say something about this too about guys who have like 10 muscle cars and come in and brag about just buying another one and saying "How many cars do you have? How many of them can you drive in the 2 days that you're off per week?" or something to that effect.

I wouldn't like a union angle because that would pussify everyone on the roster that walked out, because other than Henry breaking peoples ankles(and he's one of the guys that walked out so wtf), nothing extreme has happened when compared to the Attitude Era and NWO and all that good stuff. I talked about this in another thread but I think they're doing it to have Haitch get thrown out because the powers that be simply can't fire that much of the roster... they wouldn't have a company if they did that, so the logical solution is to have Haitch removed. This is a political move that's been done many times across many industries because it's always a suicidal move to fire all of your employees and have them replaced rather than just removing the guy that everyone has a problem with.

[jelle1809]

i don't know how much everyone on the roster makes but look, when you're making over $100,000 a year(which is a safe bet for many on the roster as a worst case scenario), or even making millions, you should be living realistically because it doesn't last forever. I have no sympathy for guys that don't prepare for the future. Unemployment benefits, no paid sick leave, paid vacation, workers comp, health insurance and all this, when you're making that much money you should be prepared to take care of yourself.

Granted i'm of the opinion that if you get hurt on the job that wwe takes care of it... It would be difficult for me to believe otherwise especially when guys are asked to do things like tables matches and cage matches and all this falderal, and when wwe is willing to pay for drug rehab for current and ex-talent when they don't have to. They put randy orton in anger management classes too and randy said if he did well then wwe would split the bill with him. I don't believe they just leave you high and dry given the above but it's clear they don't do as much as employers would do for employees.

Look at lanny poffo. Not a massive success in the industry, he was only in wwf for 7 years mainly as a jobber for stars. A guy like that has lived very comfortably. I saw an interview done with him where he talks about this sort of thing and what happens to people who don't prepare. I heard triple h say something about this too about guys who have like 10 muscle cars and come in and brag about just buying another one and saying "how many cars do you have? How many of them can you drive in the 2 days that you're off per week?" or something to that effect.

I wouldn't like a union angle because that would pussify everyone on the roster that walked out, because other than henry breaking peoples ankles(and he's one of the guys that walked out so wtf), nothing extreme has happened when compared to the attitude era and nwo and all that good stuff. I talked about this in another thread but i think they're doing it to have haitch get thrown out because the powers that be simply can't fire that much of the roster... They wouldn't have a company if they did that, so the logical solution is to have haitch removed. This is a political move that's been done many times across many industries because it's always a suicidal move to fire all of your employees and have them replaced rather than just removing the guy that everyone has a problem with.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
totally this, it is a bad-ass answer!!!!!

[Rich Cranium]

he's actually right, you think WWE wrestlers get a union or get paid while they're injured? NOPE

I hear the WWE takes care of those that get injured on the job, i.e. in the ring. If they get hurt in the gym or elsewhere, then it's up to them to pay for their own HMO/PPO, etc.


At the same time, it isn't just WWE's fault. Talent negotiates their contracts. They should fight for those things in negotiations. Not just let themselves be signed away for the quota & then bitch about it.


But if it means your way of living and that the paycheck they might earn while washing dishes at a local restaurant will not cater to their needs, then there is not much of an option.

I would suggest a united strike Teamster's style ala Jimmy Hoffa.

[BlazersDozen]

I hear the WWE takes care of those that get injured on the job, i.e. in the ring. If they get hurt in the gym or elsewhere, then it's up to them to pay for their own HMO/PPO, etc.



But if it means your way of living and that the paycheck they might earn while washing dishes at a local restaurant will not cater to their needs, then there is not much of an option.

I would suggest a united strike Teamster's style ala Jimmy Hoffa.

See my second post lol

I think it would benefit the wrestling business if the wrestlers set up a union amongst themselves in America with maybe three guys representing each company. Make a list of desires & needs & force Vince & others to follow this. It would work because the only guys who would work under current law of the land would be these super green guys & crappy guys.

Also, wrestlers making $100,000 a year & more is a farce. In like 2006 or 2007, I'd say the avg salary was around $65,000 for WWE?? Less in TNA where Kurt Angle was making I think $250,000 as their top draw. I think Cena was making a little over a million with bonuses, merch cut & all figured in. Divas made less money per year than I did at that time. I haven't been able to find any updated figures since then though.

[AOF666]

I don't know how much everyone on the roster makes but look, when you're making over $100,000 a year(which is a safe bet for many on the roster as a worst case scenario), or even making millions, you should be living realistically because it doesn't last forever. I have no sympathy for guys that don't prepare for the future. Unemployment benefits, no paid sick leave, paid vacation, workers comp, health insurance and all this, when you're making that much money you should be prepared to take care of yourself.

Granted I'm of the opinion that if you get hurt on the job that WWE takes care of it... it would be difficult for me to believe otherwise especially when guys are asked to do things like tables matches and cage matches and all this falderal, and when WWE is willing to pay for drug rehab for current and ex-talent when they don't have to. They put Randy Orton in anger management classes too and Randy said if he did well then WWE would split the bill with him. I don't believe they just leave you high and dry given the above but it's clear they don't do as much as employers would do for employees.

Look at Lanny Poffo. Not a massive success in the industry, he was only in WWF for 7 years mainly as a jobber for stars. A guy like that has lived very comfortably. I saw an interview done with him where he talks about this sort of thing and what happens to people who don't prepare. I heard Triple H say something about this too about guys who have like 10 muscle cars and come in and brag about just buying another one and saying "How many cars do you have? How many of them can you drive in the 2 days that you're off per week?" or something to that effect.

I wouldn't like a union angle because that would pussify everyone on the roster that walked out, because other than Henry breaking peoples ankles(and he's one of the guys that walked out so wtf), nothing extreme has happened when compared to the Attitude Era and NWO and all that good stuff. I talked about this in another thread but I think they're doing it to have Haitch get thrown out because the powers that be simply can't fire that much of the roster... they wouldn't have a company if they did that, so the logical solution is to have Haitch removed. This is a political move that's been done many times across many industries because it's always a suicidal move to fire all of your employees and have them replaced rather than just removing the guy that everyone has a problem with.

Funny, Vince was going to fire Cena, the board had a problem and said Vince was removed for bad decisions. Employees refusing to work on Raw, Board has no problem with it. Where is the logic in that?