Tom Brady has more rights than most American workers

[Omaha Steve]

RICHARD DREW/AP

Patriots QB Tom Brady arrived at federal court in New York on Monday.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/08/31/tom-brady-employee-has-more-rights-than-most-american-workers/SORdrxjAQZEYUhp0m6OVIM/story.html

By Evan Horowitz GLOBE STAFF AUGUST 31, 2015

Tom Brady is different from most Americans, and not just because he’s a better football player. He also has the rare ability to take his boss to court when he thinks he’s being punished unfairly.

As Team Goodell and Team Brady square off in court again Monday — as part of Brady’s ongoing legal challenge to the four-game suspension he received from National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell after the league’s “deflategate” investigation — it’s worth remembering that the only reason Brady has been able to press his case this far is because he’s in a union, which affords him lots of additional workplace rights.

The vast majority of American workers aren’t union members. They’re “at-will” employees, with no legal right to be treated fairly at work. In fact, most Americans can be punished, even fired, for being too attractive, or too short, or having the wrong politics — or for no reason at all.

Don’t employers need a good reason to fire people?

If you’re in a union, then the answer is yes. Generally speaking, union workers can be fired only for “just cause,” so there has to be a good reason.

FULL story at link.