Key Issues force League, Players' Association to Stall Talks -NHL Lockout Update
The National Hockey League (NHL) and Players’ Association have been forced to stall talks for an indefinite period, so it looks, after both stakeholders failed to make any significant progress in the past few meetings which were termed crucial to saving
what remains of the 2012-2013 regular season.
“I just don’t, right now, given our opposition to addressing some of these issues, know where we go,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told reporters on Sunday afternoon
The previous meetings got tense as either side could not find a middle path and reach a consensus which would work for both stakeholders, forcing them to reconsider where they stand.
One of the major issues being faced the labour union is the fact that team owners are not willing to consider what they have to say along with not wanting to take into consideration their proposals at all.
“The owners made it clear that there is no give with respect to any of their proposals,” NHLPA Executive Director, Donald Fehr, said. “That unless players are prepared to take -- and this is my phrase, not theirs -- down to the comma, that there’s nothing
to do.”
The previous collective bargaining agreement came to an end on September 15, 2012, which had lasted for a number of years after being brought in following the cancellation of the entire 2004-2005 regular season. Fans fear that history will repeat itself
unless one of the sides caves into the demands of the others.
Making the situation even more confusing, NHL Deputy Commissioner, Bill Daly, says that players are not taking what the league has to say seriously.
“We have proposals on the table,” Daly said. “What we heard from the players’ association is that they’re not interested in our proposals, and that leaves us apart.”
There are no meetings scheduled for the upcoming days as of yet and no clear position from either side on what their agenda is for the future. It will definitely be interesting to see how the story progresses and whether either side is willing enough to
take charge and get a deal done.
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