NFL files charge against union with labor board

WASHINGON (AP) -- The NFL has filed an unfair labor practice charge against its players' union.

In Monday's filing with the National Labor Relations Board, the league is asking that the union be ordered to bargain in good faith. The NFL says the union wants to avoid reaching a new collective bargaining agreement by the early March expiration of the old deal.

The league says the union wants to decertify so it can file an antitrust lawsuit.

The filing with the NLRB says the "union's strategy amounts to an unlawful anticipatory refusal to bargain."

A statement e-mailed by union spokesman George Atallah says the NFL's "claim has absolutely no merit."

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