NEW YORK -- Anticipating a possible antitrust suit, the NHL has brought its labor fight against hockey players to federal court.
The league on Friday filed a class action suit in U.S. District Court in New York, seeking to establish that its now 90-day lockout is legal. In a separate move, the NHL filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming the players' association has bargained in bad faith.
The NHL said it believes the union's executive board is seeking authorization to give up its collective bargaining rights, a necessary step before players could file an antitrust lawsuit.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly declined to comment on the league's actions Friday. The moves were made after the sides held a bargaining teleconference, following two days of talks that included federal mediators.
Players' association special counsel Steve Fehr, meanwhile, declined to comment on the lawsuits or to confirm the union's plans regarding a so-called disclaimer of interest. Fehr, who took part in the conference call earlier Friday, said the league didn't make its legal plans known during its discussions.
If players choose to pursue a disclaimer of interest, the union would essentially stop being a collective group to negotiate a labor deal with the NHL. The Canadian Press, citing unidentified sources, said that the union's executive board requested a vote from its membership on
Such a move wouldn't necessarily doom the entire hockey season that has already been long-delayed and shortened.
During the NBA lockout last year, the basketball union made a similar move. But negotiations continued anyway and a tentative agreement was reached within a couple of weeks.
The union then reformed in time for players to ratify the new deal and begin a shortened season. NFL players took the same route last year, as well.
By filing the complaint in New York, the NHL guaranteed that the legality of the lockout would be decided in a court known to be sympathetic toward management. The league is concerned that if the union dissolves and seeks to have the lockout deemed illegal, players could be due triple their lost salaries if they are successful.
The sides had spent the previous two days in talks with mediators in New Jersey. On Wednesday, union officials and league brass spoke separately to mediators and not with each other. There were face- to-face talks between the sides on Thursday, but no progress of note was achieved.
Without the presence of mediators on Friday, a small group of negotiators -- four aside without Commissioner Gary Bettman or union executive director Donald Fehr taking part -- got on the conference call.
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