“NHL players mount challenge to union” Vol 8 (24) p.4 by Darrin Schwarz

Keeping with the labor relations theme, Robert Lanaz is representing more than 50 NHL players who are protesting the way Saskin got the top NHLPA job. This group says the vote being taken now violates the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, because the dissidents have been denied the right to communicate their message with the voting members. Lanza and the players have filed an unfair labor practices charge against the NHLPA with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that the current operation of the union “ results in favoritism for certain members” and that the union “has ignored all requests for information” from members. So, the dissident group plans to launch a players-only Web site to get its message out. Another vote was conducted on September 12, but as of last week there was still no news on the result. The reasons for the delay are unclear but some teams are withholding their vote for now. The Detroit Red Wings are also withholding their ballots claiming, ‘We still have not voted and we are not going to vote until Ted Saskin starts releasing information’. They don’t plan on voting on something that the players have no voice in and the team says the union is not permitting the players to communicate with each other. There are now about 100 players out of a total 700 who support the dissident group.
Most problems in labor relations originate from poor communication or lack-there-of. This disagreement started with poor communication and organization from both the NHLPA and the players, and it seems it will continue until both sides convene and reach a voting process and outcome that can appease the players as well as the dissident group.