Most Twitter users are outraged by the poor performance of the NFL’s replacement referees. A few Twitter users, however, defended the NFL’s decision to replace the “real” referees. These Twitter users believe the referee union’s demand for a defined-benefit retirement plan (a pension) for part-time employees is not reasonable.
One fan wrote a letter to the Boston Herald:
The refs’ union is dreaming if they think they will maintain or increase their pension plan. No other industry has new pension plans, and old pension plans have been being phased out for the past 30 years in place of 401(k) plans. Pension plans are a thing of the past! So if that is the big stumbling block, we will have scab refs for a long time or until the real refs come back to reality.
Others spoke out on Twitter:
@jimrome Want a full pension then become a full-time employee. Refs won't do it!! They are the d!ckheads. They want their cake and eat it 2.
— JekilCO (@JekilCO) September 25, 2012
https://twitter.com/DaisyCutter79/status/250535884619911169
@mcuban horrible calls don't mean the real "part time" refs deserve a full time pension. What do you think?
— Duane Thompson (@DuaneTho) September 25, 2012
@JDurant52 Don't like media painting NFL as bad guys when refs ask for absurd demands. A full pension but refuse being full-time employees?
— JekilCO (@JekilCO) September 25, 2012
https://twitter.com/NeonDeon37/status/250507336383336448
Can't blame the commish for not giving regular refs a pension #sarcasm
— Dave Wanninger (@DaveWanninger) September 25, 2012
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The "real" refs are gonna have to come to a middle ground…is there any PART TIME job out there where you can collect a pension?
— Slim Natrone Means (@Burrrdman) September 25, 2012
https://twitter.com/Joe_D203/status/250541747191562240
@GregJennings Tweet the refs to stop making absurd demands like wanting a full pension while refusing to be full-time employees.
— JekilCO (@JekilCO) September 25, 2012
The referee's union won't accept moving from a golden pension plan to a 401k. Oh boo hoo for them. Join the real world refs.
— Eric Knows (@ericknowsitall) September 25, 2012
@SigmundBloom the alternative is worse for the NFL. They cant give refs a pension they wont give full time employees.
— Hornet (@cochise269) September 25, 2012
@jimrome Why isn't the media talking about the absurd demands the refs are making like a full pension plan, no new crews hired, etc?
— JekilCO (@JekilCO) September 25, 2012
https://twitter.com/M1Easy/status/250465688286797824
Have every right to keep lockout on refs. They dont deserve the same pension plan as full time career employees
— Remington S. (@remingtons21) September 25, 2012
The replacement refs made a bad call by saying the last play was simultaneous possession. The union's pension demand is still absurd.
— Philip Sanford (@thephilsanford) September 25, 2012
@JonHeymanCBS This lockout would be over if refs dropped the ridiculous pension stance. Part-time refs deserve pensions? Get real.
— CJHoytNews (@CJHoytNews) September 17, 2012
NFL refs work 1 day per week for a few months and think they deserve a pension?
— Travis Bickle (@O_Shaw) September 17, 2012
Part of the blame has to go to real NFL refs….they are trying to have their cake and eat it too. Who gets a pension for a part time job?
— Shaun O'Hara (@ShaunOHara60) September 25, 2012
Refs get 30% of salary contributed in pension? We find that criminal behavior on Wall Street, so why is #NFL villain?
— Brien Straw (@BstrawRadio) September 17, 2012
No one disputes that replacement refs aren't good enough. But also many dispute whether part-time referees should have a pension.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) September 18, 2012
But the locked-out refs now find themselves in a strong bargaining position and are unlikely to give in:
Nfl refs hold tight yr pension coming up
— djindianajones (@djindianajones) September 25, 2012
NFL refs can ask for a pension, tricked-out Escalades and dates with Mila Kunis now. NFL has to fold.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) September 25, 2012
Time for the refs to ask for pension, dental, clothing allowance, endorsement deal from Nike, and a pet Komodo dragon. @espn @nfl
— Brett Ayers (@BrettAyers) September 25, 2012
https://twitter.com/iaaboref6/status/250459790961176576
A solution?
The money the @nfl collects in fines from players and coaches bitching about refs should go to the pension plan for the locked out refs.
— Rick_Devereux (@Rick_Devereux) September 25, 2012
Reasonable certain that there's enough angry player tweets that the fines will more than cover NFL refs pension demands. #nfl #tsn
— Producer Tim (@TVProducerTim) September 25, 2012
https://twitter.com/Svecticles/status/250477941153210368
What do you think?
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