Last night, three days after a blown call that had even Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker pleading to “#Returntherealrefs,” football’s union referees were back on the field. Just before midnight, management announced a deal had been reached on a new contract, ending a lockout marked by questionable calls and — worse – unsafe but unpunished hits. As the “replacement” refs depart the field, talk of lockouts will fade from the news — but they’ll remain a growing trend in labor struggles across the country.
Josh Eidelson 