23 enero 2006
History
The Professional Basketball players Association ( ABP) was founded in July of 1986. It was the result of an initiative of a large number of players who believed it to be necessary to respond to the absolute power that the ACB was executing at the time. A wrongdoing called ” the gentlemen’s agreement” had been established, violating the legal aspect and allowing the clubs to make lists of intransferable players, which acted as the motive behind these players reaction. As a counteract they founded a syndicate to defend their interests.
From the mere beginning, ABPs efforts lead to a collective agreement which proposed a dignified contraction process for the players and an improvement of the social rights which would cover a larger number of possible needs. After two years of negotiation and some tension, the first Collective Agreement in professional basketball was signed in March of 1990. The second, still in forbearance, was signed in July of 1993, and is currently in the phase of renegotiation.
This agreement regulates, among other things, the sectors minimum wage policy, vacations and breaks, the disciplinary regime, the exploitation of the rights of the image as stated by the Social Fund, Found for salary guaranteed, the judicial lines of contracts.etc.
ABP does not only concern itself with the present, but also the preparation and adaptation to a life after finishing their professional careers, and how to obtain an income from different sources.
Due to this, a variety of agreements have been made with different universities and centers who give classes of accounting, marketing, etc, to facilitate an education which may be adapted to the players different agendas.
Along the same line, the working agreement with Adecco to develop the Relevo Program, has been established to facilitate the integration of those players in the working environment, teaching in techniques of job finding, and helping them with what is for them a new and difficult experience.
Furthermore, since 1995 ABP has arranged during summer time, educational classes free of charge for the players. These are aimed at obtaining knowledge relative to the business and financial world, containing, among others, the basic ideas when starting up a business, how franchises work, and the financial market.
In summer 2003 ABP also started with technical training sessions to improve the players skills during the off- season. With the presence of different prestigious coaches, the players are able to assist two weekly training sessions, during which they learn different tools necessary to develop their skills and talents.
In addition to what has been mentioned above, the establishment of the Mutualidad Deportistas Profesionales arrange pension plans with unique characteristics for professional athletes that allows them to plan a strategic saving plan that combine reduction in the percentage of the taxes with some bank interest. The MDP saw the light in the year 2000, and its funding members are AFE, AJBM, AJFS, ACP and ABP. Currently ABP also holds the Vice- Presidency of the Mutualidad de Deportistas Profesionales.
ABP is also representing the best interest of its players in the Executive Committee and the Anti- Doping Committee of the Spanish Basketball Federation, the Arbitrary Committee of the Spanish Olympic Committee, and Anti – Violence Committee, and Mixed Committee which is for the transformation of clubs to societies. And also at the broadcasting of sports events, all of which are dependent of the Superior Council of Sports.