NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman assures of both sides not being close to labor deal -NHL Update
While a secretive meeting between the top executives of the National Hockey League (NHL) and NHL Players’ Association was believed to have been one which would break the ice, only seems to have made things worse as commissioner, Gary Bettman, came out and
termed the two stakeholders as still far from deciding on a new deal.
The possibility of a second lockout in NHL history is becoming to look like a reality with news emerging of both sides being locked on their demands instead of compromising on some issues. Instead, the two stakeholders are giving off the vibe of going in
with it all or nothing, which would definitely be a destructive situation.
One thing is that Bettman believes that the players are already receiving more then they deserve and should have it lessened, which definitely something the labour union will and has not is taken lightly.
"We believe we're paying out more than we should be," Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "It's as simple as that."
According to NHLPA executive director, Donald Fehr, he is well aware of what is at stake and so is Garry Bettman going into talks on Thursday, August 23, 2012, with no stance of compromising in any situation.
"If there's going to be a lockout -- and that's something that the owners will choose or not choose -- then you would have missed games, you would have lost revenue, you would have lost paychecks," Fehr said. "But that doesn't mean that the parties don't
understand going into it that that would be the case."
Some of the things like reducing players share in revenue from 57 percent to 46 and extending entry-level contracts to five-years along with eliminating arbitration hearings all together, have already come under fire as being termed to be unreasonable on
behalf of the North American hockey league.
At the moment, there is no clear cut confirmation from either side whether fans will see another hockey year soon or not. Updates should be expected on the issue in upcoming days as both sides are willing to continue talking until something works out.
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