League makes 'significant' counter proposal to Players' Association over new Labour Deal -NHL Update
The National Hockey League (NHL), unexpectedly made a move to put forth another counter proposal, which has been termed to be ‘significant’ in every sense of the term as the expiration date for the current collective bargaining agreement closes in.
With less than 20 days left to go in what may result to be another lockout seen by the North American major league, the Players’ Association will be gathering around and discussing what their final stance on the talks will be.
The newest proposal, the second made by the league up until now, is reportedly dealing with a number of economic issues that the Players’ Association had raised questions about.
"We need to get on the same page on the economics," Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "and we're hoping that by virtue of the proposal we made today that there will be some traction and that there will be a framework for the negotiation."
Top executives from both sides, including Gary Bettman and Players’ Association executive director, Donald Fehr, had been meeting with their limited group of associates to cool down the temperature which had risen recently as the league failed to budge from
its staunch stance of removing a number of facilities from the labour unions side.
For now, the NHLPA does not have a final answer on the counter proposal, but is in the review process.
It was made on Tuesday, August 28, 2012, and should be further discussed when both sides meet again the next day according to Fehr.
"It takes some time to review proposals, to analyze them, to make sure you understand them and to formulate an appropriate response to the proposal that's made," Fehr said. "Certainly, at this stage of the negotiations, you don't want to do that before you're
ready and before you're sure that you understand it. But, I do expect, as of today at least, that we'll be meeting again [Wednesday] afternoon."
Gary Bettman also believes that this proposal was a step in the right direction, but for now, there is still not indication that a hockey season is ready to toll with threats of a lockout still looming.
Tags: