PHPA, CHL Announce Two-year Collective Bargaining Agreement

By Darryl Dionne  Published on: Tuesday September 07, 2010

(Niagara Falls, ON) The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) and Central Hockey League (CHL) are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached on a two-year CHL-PHPA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The agreement will last through the 2011-12 season with a provision to commence negotiations towards a successor agreement no later than January 31, 2012.

The two-year agreement has been approved by the CHL Team Owners and ratified by the overwhelming majority of CHL players. The agreement was modified to include increases over the next two years to per-diem (meal money), salary cap, salary floor, playoff shares, and regular season finish money. A number of provisions in the inaugural CBA deemed essential to CHL players such as Union Security, housing, travel, All-Star and Christmas Break, as well as a fully funded off-ice medical insurance program will continue in the new agreement. Enhancements were also made to the veteran rule, which will see an increase from 4 to 6 veterans for the 2010-11 season.

Players will continue to have access to a variety of programs such as a Career Enhancement Program inclusive of reimbursement for players wishing to advance their education, a Membership Assistance Program which is a free counseling service for players, as well as a Group Licensing Authorization Program which protects player likeness rights.

The terms of the CBA will be in effect for former International Hockey League (IHL) teams, which are now playing in the CHL.

“Having the ability to finalize a successor agreement and continue to operate under stable labor / management relations was an opportunity that could not be overlooked,” said Larry Landon, Executive Director of the PHPA. “Both sides worked tirelessly to come to terms on an Agreement which built upon the existing framework negotiated in the inaugural CBA.”

“We are pleased to finalize this Agreement with the PHPA, utilizing the previous CBA as our base,” said Duane Lewis, Commissioner of the CHL. “These processes take time and patience, and the efforts made by both sides to get to this point are much appreciated. We look forward to the upcoming season in the CHL, and know that the fans will enjoy what this year has to offer.”