The NHL and NHL Players Association invited in mediators to try and end the labor impasse over a collective bargaining agreement.
After two days, according to NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, the mediators gave up and left.
"After spending several hours with both sides over two days, the presiding mediators concluded that the parties remained far apart, and that no progress toward a resolution could be made through further mediation at this point in time," Daly said in a statement Thursday. "We are disappointed that the mediation process was not successful."
The league and union agreed to have representatives from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) attend meetings to offer advice on how to end the CBA stalemate and the lockout that began Sept. 16. The NHL has canceled all regular-season games through Dec. 14 and a decision on canceling the 2012-2013 season could be fast approaching.
Daly said the NHL now has another suggestion: let the NHL owners and players meet to talk over the issues. The NHLPA has not responded to that request.
NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr, unlike Daly, said the mediators' work may not be done.
"The mediators informed the parties that they did not think it was productive to continue the discussions further (Thursday)," Fehr said in a statement. "The mediators indicated that they would stay in contact with the league and the NHLPA, and would call the parties back together when they thought the time was right.”
The NHLPA may soon decide that the time is right for decertification of the union. That would allow NHL players to pursue antitrust suits against the NHL.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Who cares?!
Tue, 12/04/2012 - 10:15 — Caniac5The world is going to end in 17 days! There will be no more anything!
How do I know? Dick Clark died so there will be no New Year this year!
It's official
Fri, 11/30/2012 - 16:01 — louis12580This just makes it official. Neither side can see the forrest through the trees. Maybe the National Forrsetry Service needs to be summoned to replace the mediator?
Disclaimer of Interest
Fri, 11/30/2012 - 15:19 — abramsdougIt seems clear to me that neither side is prepared to reach an agreement. The owners via Bettman are still trying to decimate the NHLPA. The players' leadership, including Fehr, are still making demands that the owners will not accept. It's true, however, that as compared with the present CBA, the owners are only taking away money and rights. The players are being presented with an agreement that gives them nothing better than the present CBA.
50-50 and honoring contracts is such an obvious resolution, reason has long ago left the building. The only path to resolving this fiasco is either decertification or disclaimer of interest. If the Union files a disclaimer of interest, the matter can promptly be brought into courtrooms where reason and rules can be imposed by others.
Reason on Vacation...
Fri, 11/30/2012 - 13:26 — Skyliner1This absurd situation has become a test of wills between Fehr and Bettman; both of who are apparently passingthe baton of failure along to whomever they find as a convenient fallguy. It was up to them to strike a bargain, not a mediator, players or anyone else. That is part of why they are paid. They failed so neither should be rewarded for non-performance.
Top players such as Staal, Crosby, etc. lose maybe $17 M in salary for 2 lost seasons, but such players are set for life... the real victims are the fans, those who makethe turnstyles hum with ticket revenue, as well as the vendors, parking lot attendants, etc., who work at menial jobs and certainly need that lost income even if they are holding a primary day job.
This behavior in a weak economy and for a sport in which several teams are apparently on the doorsteps of financial disaster is irresponsible, foolish and a picture of greed run amuck.
I've often felt that unions and management deserve each other. The fans and employees deserve neither.
But what the heck, maybe their solution for resolution will be to bore more holes in the boat to let the water out. Seems as wise as what they've done so far!
Tried to be Optomistic......Need to read a book now
Fri, 11/30/2012 - 09:44 — oldpoliticalsI guess I was stubborn, just not believing either side had the stomach to lose another season. I hate to say that it appears my optimism has taken a nose dive recently.
This is still entertainment and I am trying to keep that in perspective. However, it is time to get a good stack of books to read. Expending time and energy worrying about a hockey season will just lead to more frustration.
Not apathetic, just trying to maintain some personal sanity in this insane situation.
Deja Vu
Fri, 11/30/2012 - 00:22 — sittler27Corvo summed it up best. "Feels like 2004/05 again".
Difference is that this will be the second lost season in 8 years. What legitimate major sport does that? There is not a major media outlet that doesn't report the same thing.... this time there is real fan anger and major lost interest. I simply don't get how both sides can't see the irreparable damage they are doing and that the longer term losses will make the dollar value of the current impasse look insignificant in comparison.
If the recent Forbes team finances and valuation report is accurate then only 6 or 7 teams are making any real money. To me those are also the markets where folks may be snarly but they will be back in the seats next year. The current 50/50 arrangement would be of great benefit to the next tier and move them to better financial returns. The bottom tier will still struggle but less so.... however a, say 10% , loss in the fan base of the middle and bottom tiers and any gains from this current battle will be more than negated. Maybe I am oversimplifying but seems like the smart move for both sides is to give a little and settle now.
Each club has its own
Fri, 11/30/2012 - 12:59 — ctillEach club has its own strategy about annual income. Depending on how a club is legally structured, it might make sense to avoid realizing a large amount of annual profitability on which taxes might have have to be paid at high marginal rates. Instead, the strategy could be to minimize annual profitability while nevertheless growing the value of the club -- and then selling the club someday for a capital gain to which a relatively low tax rate would apply. Games wealthy people play.
Agree
Sun, 12/02/2012 - 20:47 — sittler27I agree. And Forbes does not provide enough data to fully understnad their valuations. My major was finance and I own my own business so I understand your point. I used the term "return" rather than income for that reason. I would expect most owners/investors in NHL teams are more interested in long term return on capital than short term annual income. And there are some who own more because of passion for the sport than expected returns.
But I think the overall point is valid. While Forbes is likely not laser precision correct in their valuations, the approximate range of their valuations versus a similar process for other sports gives a pretty good perspective on the relative worth of the NHL teams. Valuations are not in the same stratosphere as most other major league sports and good portion of that is lack of financial performance and returns.
Bring on Decertification
Thu, 11/29/2012 - 20:14 — CanarseMight as well get it started. There is no way the owners are budging unless there is some kind of threat. I'm not sure the owners should budge after reading the Forbes report on the business of hockey. Nearly half of the teams don't make money and the top three teams make the vast majority of the cash. That's not a viable long-term set up. 50/50 is fair in my mind. To me the big sticking point is the "make whole" money. The wealthy players aren't willing to give up a cent. Meanwhile, 3rd and 4th liners are the big losers. I want what's best for the game and making sure guys that make $5M get every penny doesn't help the game. Keeping free agency rights is another issue, but I think the league may give on those issues if the players would agree on the make whole offer.