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The Worcester Railers will not play in their hockey game scheduled for Friday in Maine.
And the door is open for the Railers possibly postponing their next two games this weekend in Worcester.
With the ECHL saying in a message on its website that the Professional Hockey Players’ Association did not respond to their “last, best, and final offer” to resolve an impending strike with their players, the minor professional hockey league is on the verge of a work stoppage.
“The ECHL made clear to union leadership that this was the best offer and that any future offers likely will need to account for losses in revenue attributable to missed games from a player strike,” the ECHL wrote on their website. “While we did not receive a formal response, we have heard from certain players that they will not be reporting for their scheduled games. We strongly encouraged union leadership to submit our offer to a vote of its membership, but we do not believe that happened.”
After the ECHL members of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) delivered a strike authorization mandate to the league on Dec. 18 in response to unfair labor practices by the league, that stoppage seems to be taking effect eight days later.
“We have informed the ECHL that we are willing to continue discussions to resolve all outstanding matters,” Professional Hockey Players’ Association executive director Brian Ramsay said in a statement earlier this week. “For several months, we have been engaged in bargaining with the league, and their unlawful and coercive conduct throughout this process has been incredibly disappointing. We are asking for basic standards around health, safety and working conditions that allow the players to remain healthy, compete at a high level and build sustainable professional careers.
“Our members have never been more united and remain ready to return to the bargaining table at any time. We sincerely hope the ECHL will engage in good-faith negotiations so a fair agreement can be reached and any disruption to the season can be avoided.”
The ECHL, which is a North American developmental league that is two levels below the NHL and has 30 teams, has been operating without an active collective bargaining agreement since the previous deal expired in June. The league says its latest offer includes a 19.8 percent increase to the salary cap for this season, with more increases in the future that could boost that percentage up to 27.
The ECHL says its offer also includes requirements for mandatory days off, addressing travel between back-to-back games and modifying holiday and midseason breaks. It also involves every team being able to provide custom sticks and five-star helmets, and an increase in per diems for players.
“This deal rewards players and ensures the sustainability of our teams and league so that it can continue to offer an entertaining and financially accessible product to our fans, and provide our incredible players with as many opportunities to play and compete,” the ECHL wrote.
With the ECHL and PHPA currently not in lockstep on a new deal, the Railers’ game against the Maine Mariners was postponed on Friday.
The Railers posted a message on their social media feeds at 1 p.m. that said: “We wanted to provide a statement from the ECHL about collective bargaining with the PHPA and the union’s decision to force all ECHL players to go on strike,” the team wrote. “This is likely going to lead to the postponement of some games, and we will be in direct communication with our fans about any home games that will be postponed or rescheduled.”
As of Friday afternoon, tickets for Saturday’s Railers game against the Adirondack Thunder at the DCU Center were still on sale.
But with negotiations at a standstill between the ECHL and PHPA, and the players now on strike, this weekend’s schedule for the Worcester Railers remains unclear.
No other statements have been issued by the PHPA or the Railers at this time.
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: ECHL players go on strike amid disagreement over collective bargaining
Continue reading...
And the door is open for the Railers possibly postponing their next two games this weekend in Worcester.
With the ECHL saying in a message on its website that the Professional Hockey Players’ Association did not respond to their “last, best, and final offer” to resolve an impending strike with their players, the minor professional hockey league is on the verge of a work stoppage.
“The ECHL made clear to union leadership that this was the best offer and that any future offers likely will need to account for losses in revenue attributable to missed games from a player strike,” the ECHL wrote on their website. “While we did not receive a formal response, we have heard from certain players that they will not be reporting for their scheduled games. We strongly encouraged union leadership to submit our offer to a vote of its membership, but we do not believe that happened.”
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After the ECHL members of the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) delivered a strike authorization mandate to the league on Dec. 18 in response to unfair labor practices by the league, that stoppage seems to be taking effect eight days later.
“We have informed the ECHL that we are willing to continue discussions to resolve all outstanding matters,” Professional Hockey Players’ Association executive director Brian Ramsay said in a statement earlier this week. “For several months, we have been engaged in bargaining with the league, and their unlawful and coercive conduct throughout this process has been incredibly disappointing. We are asking for basic standards around health, safety and working conditions that allow the players to remain healthy, compete at a high level and build sustainable professional careers.
“Our members have never been more united and remain ready to return to the bargaining table at any time. We sincerely hope the ECHL will engage in good-faith negotiations so a fair agreement can be reached and any disruption to the season can be avoided.”
The ECHL, which is a North American developmental league that is two levels below the NHL and has 30 teams, has been operating without an active collective bargaining agreement since the previous deal expired in June. The league says its latest offer includes a 19.8 percent increase to the salary cap for this season, with more increases in the future that could boost that percentage up to 27.
You must be registered for see images attach
The ECHL says its offer also includes requirements for mandatory days off, addressing travel between back-to-back games and modifying holiday and midseason breaks. It also involves every team being able to provide custom sticks and five-star helmets, and an increase in per diems for players.
“This deal rewards players and ensures the sustainability of our teams and league so that it can continue to offer an entertaining and financially accessible product to our fans, and provide our incredible players with as many opportunities to play and compete,” the ECHL wrote.
With the ECHL and PHPA currently not in lockstep on a new deal, the Railers’ game against the Maine Mariners was postponed on Friday.
The Railers posted a message on their social media feeds at 1 p.m. that said: “We wanted to provide a statement from the ECHL about collective bargaining with the PHPA and the union’s decision to force all ECHL players to go on strike,” the team wrote. “This is likely going to lead to the postponement of some games, and we will be in direct communication with our fans about any home games that will be postponed or rescheduled.”
You must be registered for see images attach
As of Friday afternoon, tickets for Saturday’s Railers game against the Adirondack Thunder at the DCU Center were still on sale.
But with negotiations at a standstill between the ECHL and PHPA, and the players now on strike, this weekend’s schedule for the Worcester Railers remains unclear.
No other statements have been issued by the PHPA or the Railers at this time.
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: ECHL players go on strike amid disagreement over collective bargaining
Continue reading...
