Quebec labor board to hear petition vs. NHL lockout

Montreal, QC, Canada (4E Sports) – The Quebec Labour Relations Board has set aside Dec. 6-7 to hear the merits of the NHL Players Association’s case filed in behalf of several Montreal Canadiens players, questioning the legality of the NHL-imposed lockout.

The case was filed with the QLRB in September as the players’ union sought an injunction to the work stoppage.

The board rejected the union’s request for immediate relief but set a date to hear the full merits of the NHLPA’s complaint.

A favorable judgment will not help end the lockout but it would require the Canadiens to pay their players.

“Will it help settle this lockout? Probably not,” NHLPA director of operations Alex Dagg told the Montreal Gazette. “But we think there are certain principles worth fighting for and continuing to put forward here.”

The lockout has entered its second month with both sides in a stalemate regarding financial issues. The NHL and NHLPA have remained in communication, but have not scheduled any meetings.

The league submitted a proposal, including a 50/50 revenue split and a provision to “make whole” existing player contracts by using deferred payments but the union rejected it.

Without a new agreement, the league cancelled all regular season games through the November.

The league is also expected to announce this week the cancellation of the Winter Classic, which will feature a showdown between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs on New Year’s Day at Michigan Stadium.

---

---