Negotiations between League, Players Association to continue on Friday -NHL Update
Negotiations between the National Hockey League (NHL) and Players’ Association (NHLPA), were set to kick off on Thursday, August 30, 2012, but now, the response to the league’s second proposal will be given by the labour union on Friday, from what has been
reported.
The meeting is scheduled to be held at the league offices in Manhattan and it is expected that the labour union will show up with a lot of players by their side to continue talks with league officials.
September 15th is the expiration date for the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and there is no certainty to a new labour deal being in place when it comes to an end and could result in possible lockout.
Both sides have reassured their stance as being one that would ensure a fair deal comes into place, but looking at how different each sides proposals have been, it seems the word ‘fair’ is being misunderstood by someone.
"I hope it's clear that our intention is to make a deal that is fair," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "It's a deal that we, in light of the experience we've had the last seven years, think needs to address issues that we have seen develop under this
Collective Bargaining Agreement. But, by the same token, we recognize the deal should be fair to the players and that's something we're hoping to accomplish. In that regard, [Tuesday], we made what we considered to be, and I think by any measure was, a meaningful
and significant move."
Donald Fehr, the NHLPA’s executive director, had informed reporters that currently, the labour union is going through the league’s second proposal and will take a definitive stance on it on Friday. He did not share anything else with the media at that time
and could be waiting to release details on the day of the meeting.
The NHL could be headed into a second lockout in a decade and for fans, it is seemingly becoming more realistic as days go by. Obviously, no one is in favour of going into a limitless deadlock, but not being able to agree mutually has both sides staunch
on their stance.
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