Mediation Involved In NHL Labour Dispute – Will It Help Or Hurt?

According to TSN.ca, after more than two months, there is a third party mediator involved in the negotiations between the NHL and the NHLPA.

nhl.com

There will be three mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service assigned to oversee the negotiations.  Its about time, and something that I suggested happen a few weeks ago.

I said then, and still do, that a neutral third party without any stake in the outcome might be the only way something gets done.  Someone on the outside can point out where each side’s demands are fair, and when they are being ludicrous.

The one thing the mediators cannot change is the past, and the results of the last round of CBA negotiations, where the players gave up so much.  That settlement is having a drastic effect this time around, and the feelings around the table arising from that set of negotiations are affecting this one.  These feelings are not quantifiable in dollars and sense.

I’m not sure if the mediators will be able to get the two sides to put those feelings aside and negotiate the fairest deal going forward.