Thread: The Official CBA Negotiations/Lockout Super Thread

Originally Posted by jammer06

I don't see how this helps the league one bit. It's non binding but they will not come out looking pretty by breaking off from mediation in a cash grab.

I'm not surprised. Assuming he's actually trying to make a deal, Fehr may need the assistance of a third party to walk the players back from the ledge. It may be easier for him to sell the players on a final deal by telling the players that the mediator says this is the best deal he can get.

I don't think Bettman cares for a second whether the league comes out looking pretty or not.

In any event, some mediations work, and some don't. We will see.

At this point I don't even care anymore... football is winding down, basketball seasons are starting up... just cancel the whole season and give us our damn money back already.

let's see, a newspaper reporter with likely zero business experience or sense calling very successful business owners "losers" because they couldn't be profitable under the current CBA.

yes, that is very balanced journalism.

League, union to meet with mediator



The NHL's stalled labor impasse has gone a new route, with the league and NHL Players' Association agreeing to meet with a mediator.

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service director George Cohen broke the news Monday afternoon.

"While we have no particular level of expectation going into this process, we welcome a new approach in trying to reach a resolution of the ongoing labor dispute at the earliest possible date," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. "We have no further comment on the upcoming meetings at the current time."

Cross Checks Blog
Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun write about all things happening in the NHL. Cross Checks

The NHL and union confirmed to ESPN.com they had accepted an invitation from federal mediators to meet with them. A source said the first meeting will be Wednesday.

"We look forward to their involvement as we continue working to reach an equitable agreement for both the players and the owners," NHLPA executive director Don Fehr said in a statement.

The two sides haven't met in a bargaining session since last Wednesday, when the NHLPA offered a new proposal that was rejected by the league.

"At the invitation of the FMCS, and with the agreement of both parties, the ongoing negotiations will now be conducted under our auspices," Cohen said in a statement. "I have assigned deputy director Scot L. Beckenbaugh, director of mediation services John Sweeney, and commissioner Guy Serota to serve as the mediators.''

Cohen has worked with the players' associations for Major League Baseball, helping end the 1994-95 strike as an outside counsel, and the NBA. He was an adviser to the NHL players' union before joining the FMCS three years ago.

Cohen mediated during the 2010 negotiations in Major League Soccer and 2011 talks in the NFL and NBA, along with this year's dispute between the NFL and its on-field officials.

Guy Serota, one of the other two mediators appointed, was also involved in one of the NHL/NHLPA mediation sessions during the last lockout.

The league canceled more games Friday, wiping out the NHL All-Star weekend plus all games through Dec. 14.

The players, meanwhile, reacted angrily to the league's rejection of their latest proposal last week, taking to social media to vent their frustration. It has also sparked talk of union decertification, though at this point it's just that -- talk.

The NHLPA has longed hinted that mediation would be a good idea, most recently outside counsel Steve Fehr saying two weeks ago during a conference in Toronto that it would be a good option.

The NHL has been less keen on it, sources tell ESPN.com, until it felt it was warranted.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report


2012 lockout -- NHL, players' association agree to mediation - ESPN

U.S. federal mediators now involved in NHL/NHLPA talks

'nuclear winter.'

With talks seemingly stalled, we are hearing the NHLPA and players are considering decertification as their next option. NBA commissioner David Stern characterized decertification as triggering a 'nuclear winter.' Decertification has also been called an AK-47. It's a pretty dramatic tool and can have serious repercussions.

Legal Look: A primer on NHLPA decertification

Originally Posted by empire

U.S. federal mediators now involved in NHL/NHLPA talks

"The mediation will be non-binding, meaning the sides will not be forced to go along with suggestions or recommendations made by Scot L. Beckenbaugh and John Sweeney. Those mediators are scheduled to meet separately with the league and union on Wednesday."

Unfortunately both sides can just tell the mediators to go fly a kite, just like they have the fans.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Originally Posted by empire

'nuclear winter.'

With talks seemingly stalled, we are hearing the NHLPA and players are considering decertification as their next option. NBA commissioner David Stern characterized decertification as triggering a 'nuclear winter.' Decertification has also been called an AK-47. It's a pretty dramatic tool and can have serious repercussions.

Legal Look: A primer on NHLPA decertification

This is really what should have happened months ago. The union should have done this, filed lawsuits like they did in the NFL, and the season would have started on time. The reason the owners are playing hardball is because they know the players (1) don't have leverage and (2) don't really have the full force of unity behind them. Filing for decertification would give them enough of (1) to not care about (2) and it would be worked out quick.

So who pays the mediators?