NHL, players fight over QC labour law
Jun 1, 2005 19:19:21 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2005 19:19:21 GMT -5
www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=126608
MONTREAL (CP) - A new skirmish between the National Hockey League and locked-out players is taking place at Quebec's labour relations board over attempts by players to secure union certification.
During a meeting that lasted more than four hours on Tuesday, the NHL disputed the commission's jurisdiction to decide the case because it claims labour relations between the NHL and the players' association is regulated by American labour laws.
Recognizing a union only in Quebec for Montreal Canadiens players would effectively create unique conditions for some players and destroy the proper functioning of the league, officials argued.
The NHL said players with the Habs are salaried workers according to Quebec labour code. It also claimed the league is the players' employer, not the Montreal hockey club.
League lawyer Roy Heenan said the players' association has implicitly accepted this fact for 40 years.
But Gaston Nadeau, lawyer for the players' association, said the Canadiens pay the salaries and sign the contracts with players.
Players Saku Koivu and Craig Rivet made that point with reporters.
''Our employer is the Montreal Canadiens, we are paid by the Montreal Canadiens'' and not by the National Hockey League, they said.
The labour board hearings will resume over several days in June and July.
Players with the Vancouver Canucks are also seeking union accreditation in British Columbia.
Quebec and B.C. are reputed to have the most favourable labour laws for workers.
In Quebec, for example, laws prevent the use of replacement workers during a labour conflict.
MONTREAL (CP) - A new skirmish between the National Hockey League and locked-out players is taking place at Quebec's labour relations board over attempts by players to secure union certification.
During a meeting that lasted more than four hours on Tuesday, the NHL disputed the commission's jurisdiction to decide the case because it claims labour relations between the NHL and the players' association is regulated by American labour laws.
Recognizing a union only in Quebec for Montreal Canadiens players would effectively create unique conditions for some players and destroy the proper functioning of the league, officials argued.
The NHL said players with the Habs are salaried workers according to Quebec labour code. It also claimed the league is the players' employer, not the Montreal hockey club.
League lawyer Roy Heenan said the players' association has implicitly accepted this fact for 40 years.
But Gaston Nadeau, lawyer for the players' association, said the Canadiens pay the salaries and sign the contracts with players.
Players Saku Koivu and Craig Rivet made that point with reporters.
''Our employer is the Montreal Canadiens, we are paid by the Montreal Canadiens'' and not by the National Hockey League, they said.
The labour board hearings will resume over several days in June and July.
Players with the Vancouver Canucks are also seeking union accreditation in British Columbia.
Quebec and B.C. are reputed to have the most favourable labour laws for workers.
In Quebec, for example, laws prevent the use of replacement workers during a labour conflict.