The NHL has "guaranteed" labor peace "on all fronts for
the next four years by reaching an agreement with its
referees and its linesmen," according to David Shoalts of the
Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. The deal, yet to be voted on by
members of the NHL Officials Association, runs through the
2000-2001 season. With the CBA with its players recently
extended through 2002, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman "can
present a stable league to the four new expansion-team owners
as well as the" TV networks. The referees' top salaries will
remain at $220,000, with more officials eligible for it. In
the last deal, a referee needed 21 years of NHL service to
receive that amount, in the new deal that has been reduced to
16 years and includes time in the minor leagues. The entry-
level salary for referees is $90,000 and salaries are paid in
the currency of the "official's country of resident."
Shoalts: "Another key term in the new deal is that retiring
officials will have their medical insurance paid by the
league for two years after their retirement." That was
"important" to U.S.-based officials, who do "not have
government-funded health insurance" (GLOBE & MAIL, 8/14).
