NHLPA Files Grievance After Reps Denied Access To Several Players
By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
The NHLPA has filed a grievance after sources said union reps, including former Capitals D Joe Reekie, were denied access to NHL players in the Verizon Center during a game in October. Sources said Reekie was ejected from the Verizon Center while NHLPA General Counsel Ian Penny was initially denied access to players. Penny, in a statement issued by the NHLPA, said, “The NHLPA confirms that it has filed a grievance regarding the Washington Capitals recent denial of event level and dressing room access to NHLPA staff.” The Capitals did not immediately respond to an e-mail inquiry late last night. But NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, in an e-mail to SportsBusiness Journal, wrote: “I can confirm that a grievance has been filed. It is our position that the Club has complied with its obligations under both the CBA and applicable labor law. There is no access mandated under the CBA, and the League and Clubs comply with the access requirements provided for by applicable law. The level of access demanded by the Union was beyond that which our Clubs are required to provide. The policy in Washington has been consistently applied and enforced since at least 1998.” The issue has the potential to create tension between players and the league at a time when players are advising the union on whether or not they want to opt out of the CBA after this season. Players have the option to opt out after this season or allow the deal to continue for three seasons, NHLPA Exec Dir Paul Kelly said. He said earlier this week that members of 13 teams had informally voted, with the remainder voting before the end of the year. Kelly said the union would not open the sealed envelopes until all votes were in. Ultimately, the union’s executive board would determine whether or not to opt out. The deadline for informing the league is in May, but Kelly said he hoped to give the league an answer to the question in January.
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