Labor strike update

The NHLPA have made their first proposal in the lastest rounds of bargaining takls with the NHL. Their proposal to the league includes a smaller percentage of revenues for players and an expanded revenue sharing program to help struggling teams.

Donald Fehr (NHLPA executive director) believes the proposal could stabilize the industry, with players set to surrender up to $465 million in revenue if the league continues to grow at its current rate. Fehr has said the players are willing to work past Sept. 15 if an agreement hasn't been signed, as long as one is on the horizon. The NHL is prepared to lock out its players if no deal is reached by then. Talks have been under way for 7 weeks now with as yet neither looking like backing down. The regular season is due to get under way on Oct. 11.

“We do believe that the proposal the players made today, once implemented, can produce a stable industry... that can give us a chance to move beyond the recurring labor strike that has plagued the NHL the last 2 decades. The players did not believe the owner's initial proposal was appropriate. In essence, when you boil it all down, what we're suggesting is that the players partner with the financially stronger owners to stabilize the industry, and assist the less financially strong ownership groups.”

Among the 23 players who were present at the meeting were Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Washington's Alex Ovechkin.

Crosby added “I like it a lot, I think, as Don said, it's addressing the issues that the league has. Making sure as players that we do our part to help those teams out, but also holding the teams accountable. At the end of the day, it's going to take both to do that.”

The NHL made a proposal of introducing new contract restrictions, with a 5 year cap on deals. The NHLPA countered that by suggesting a 3 year deal for a CBA with an option for a fourth. This would meant the players excepting a lower percentage of the revenues over the firs 3 years. The fourth year would see the CBA revert to its current terms.

Gary Bettman (NHL commissioner) said he received the union's proposal yesterday (Tuesday) and hopes to continue talks Wednesday. Adding he his hopeful they can take care of business in the next month, and the owners would carefully consider the latest proposal.

“It's clear to me that the didn't put it together in an hour or two, and as a result we're going to need to take a little bit of time to evaluate it, understand it. If we're going to respond, we want to respond appropriately”

The NHL has been down this road twice before in the last 18 years, losing the whole 2004-05 season and half the 1994-95 season due to a labor dispute. Training camps are due to start on Sept. 16, one day after the current CBA ends.