Decision on Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames appeal against lockout reserved by Alberta Labour Board -NHL Update
It is certainly a tense moment for the National Hockey League (NHL) and players from the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames clubs as the Alberta Labour Board has reserved its judgement on the appeal made by the Players’ Association against the lockout, blaming
the league and franchise owners for manipulating the outcome.
Both sides are definitely very hopeful for the outcome as it could mean a second victory for the NHL, after having gotten it in their favour in another province of Canada after it was filed in Quebec, and a chance for players to continue getting paid and
training, well at least the Oilers and Flames players.
Chairman of the board, Mark Asbell, termed the decision to reserve the judgement came after his remarks to take some time out specifically to render the arguments made by both sides and take each factor into consideration before he makes it final.
“It’s always difficult in these types of arguments,” said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, who represented the league in the case. “This will come down to a legal interpretation of the Alberta labour code.”
According to provincial law, it is a set requirement that the labour union and employer will have to appoint a mediator to clear the situation along with a 14-day cooling off periods before a lockout in officially announced, and according to the labour union,
none of those things happened.
But according to Daly, there were some special circumstances due to which those requirements could not take place. On the other hand, he claims that the provincial laws do not apply to the situation at all, but for the NHLPA, the teams residing there can
only take benefit.
“Our lawyer is making our position very clear,” said Daly. “We’ve had a long-standing collective bargaining agreement that has not been governed by Alberta labour code.
Updates should be expected in the upcoming days as the league and labour union continue to wait on a decision by Alberta’s highest labour board, which some term to be a good turnout for the players and a smart move made by them.
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