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HPT Blog: Union shies from mediator as talks continue Print
HPT Blogs
Written by Blake Benzel   
Thursday, 11 October 2012 11:33
Donald FehrOn Wednesday, the NHL and the NHLPA sat back down at the negotiating table for more talks regarding the currently expired NHL Collective Bargaining agreement, with no significant movement according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.

This is no big news – the league and the player’s association have had such a hard time finding common ground, it seems like a miracle that they can agree on whether to have coffee or tea at the negotiations – and it has led some to wonder whether or not the sides should pursue mediation to get past their issues.

With the NHLPA reportedly working on a new proposal and given the fact that they’ve requested one as well, I don’t know that mediation is needed quite yet, or if it would be useful at all.

Donald Fehr addressed whether or not he would be open to mediation in a recent interview with the Globe & Mail saying:
If it (mediation) would be thought to be helpful. You do have to have professional negotiators on both sides, but we’d consider it. There hasn’t been a tremendous record of mediators being able to lend a lot, but that doesn’t mean in a given situation that would not be the case.
Hopefully, the new proposals that should be coming soon will provide some movement in the talks and, while neither side is budging on their issues, fans can definitely take heart that the two sides are still talking and trying to move towards some sort of resolution without a mediator.
Last Updated on Thursday, 11 October 2012 11:44