Class action lawsuit filed against CHL over wages - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

sureLoss · 10-20-2014, 06:25 AM

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/20...ver_wages.html

Quote:

An unprecedented class action lawsuit striking at the economic foundations of junior hockey in Canada alleges the Canadian Hockey League and its teams “conspired” to force young players into signing contracts that breach minimum wage laws.
A statement of claim filed in a Toronto court Friday and obtained by the Star, seeks $180 million in outstanding wages, vacation, holiday and overtime pay and employer payroll contributions for thousands of young players given as little as $35 a week for practices, games, training and travelling that could add up to more than full-time hours.

The league and its teams “conspired and agreed together . . . to act in concert to demand or require that all players sign a contract which the defendants knew was unlawful,” the claim alleges. “Such conduct was high-handed, outrageous, reckless, wanton, deliberate, callous, disgraceful, wilful and in complete disregard for the rights of the (players).”
The allegations have not been proved in court.

David Branch, president of the CHL, said Sunday that he hadn’t yet seen a copy of the lawsuit but said the league “will vigorously defend the way our teams operate.”

“Our position is our players are amateur student athletes and we provide the best playing experience to our 1,300 players. . . It’s important that we defend this because it could have a huge impact on all amateur sport in this country.”

Stanathan · 10-20-2014, 06:49 AM

I am interested in who the primary players are that started this.

T@T · 10-20-2014, 06:51 AM

I would like to see the profits made off these kids. Most amateur sports don't make much or any money.

Resolute 14 · 10-20-2014, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanathan

I am interested in who the primary players are that started this.

I would pretty surprised if anyone but Unifor was behind it.

Northendzone · 10-20-2014, 07:48 AM

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Originally Posted by T@T

I would like to see the profits made off these kids. Most amateur sports don't make much or any money.

the NCAA - specifically football.

is george larouqe involved in this lawsuit in any way?

Blarg · 10-20-2014, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northendzone

the NCAA - specifically football.

is george larouqe involved in this lawsuit in any way?

I think Georges Laraque was just being used as a figurehead for the CHLPA. Once news of who was actually in charge came out, and Georges had whatever misinformation given to him was corrected, he distanced himself from it.

GioforPM · 10-20-2014, 12:41 PM

Trouble is, in the CHL, team profits vary widely. I'd bet the Hitmen make money for the Flames. I'd bet Medicine Hat doesn't for whoever owns them.

Can't compare to NCAA where the players are exploited to a pretty great degree, considering the massive profits made off of football and basketball, and the amount of players that aer chewed up by the system.

N-E-B · 10-20-2014, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Trouble is, in the CHL, team profits vary widely. I'd bet the Hitmen make money for the Flames. I'd bet Medicine Hat doesn't for whoever owns them.

Can't compare to NCAA where the players are exploited to a pretty great degree, considering the massive profits made off of football and basketball, and the amount of players that aer chewed up by the system.

I'm family friends with Mike Moore, GM of the Hitmen, and he says the Hitmen are nothing but profit for the Flames.

T@T · 10-20-2014, 01:15 PM

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Originally Posted by N-E-B

I'm family friends with Mike Moore, GM of the Hitmen, and he says the Hitmen are nothing but profit for the Flames.

Shocking

Blarg · 10-20-2014, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I'm family friends with Mike Moore, GM of the Hitmen, and he says the Hitmen are nothing but profit for the Flames.

That doesn't mean anything. There is no revenue sharing that I am aware of, which means teams like Prince Albert or Swift Current could just be breaking even or running at a loss.

GioforPM · 10-20-2014, 02:11 PM

Funny thing is - it's so much more important for those teams to stay in the black than the Hitmen, because the Flames could absorb some loss there, just to be able to control Saddledome sports.

GioforPM · 10-20-2014, 02:14 PM

Swift Current usually loses money. Last year was a sliver of an exception:

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jr...171328130.html

Vulcan · 10-20-2014, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blarg

That doesn't mean anything. There is no revenue sharing that I am aware of, which means teams like Prince Albert or Swift Current could just be breaking even or running at a loss.

Revenue sharing could be an outcome of this situation. To me there is no question junior players are exploited and a change is needed but there are also teams that are just hanging on and could use some help.

killer_carlson · 10-20-2014, 04:14 PM

do CHL players receive a year of Canadian university for each year they play?

Resolute 14 · 10-20-2014, 04:26 PM

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Originally Posted by killer_carlson

do CHL players receive a year of Canadian university for each year they play?

I think the exact rules vary by league, but generally, yes. And it is one year of university, not just Canadian. They could go to an American college too. One of the silly restrictions though is that it does not include tech schools, CEGEPs, etc. Just universities.

TjRhythmic · 10-20-2014, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think the exact rules vary by league, but generally, yes. And it is one year of university, not just Canadian. They could go to an American college too. One of the silly restrictions though is that it does not include tech schools, CEGEPs, etc. Just universities.

Most will go to Canadian university so they can continue to play hockey. My cousin went to UBC so he could go to school and still play hockey.

His school, and books are all paid for. Not sure about room and board, he is living off campus though.

SofaProfessor · 10-20-2014, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I'd bet Medicine Hat doesn't for whoever owns them.

I wouldn't bet too hard on that. There's rarely a game here with more than a handful empty seats. They're also building a new arena for the Tigers. I doubt it's a gold mine but they aren't hurting either. GioforPM posted a Yahoo article and it seems there's only a small number of WHL teams that don't turn a profit.

Edit... You are GioforPM... I don't need to tell you what article you just posted. My apologies for being a dummy.

CaptainCrunch · 10-20-2014, 04:55 PM

The profitability of the teams means nothing in terms of what the players make or don't make.

The fact is that the players willingly signed these contracts, and a lot of them on the advice of family members or agents or whatever.

This lawsuit probably doesn't go far.

Beatle17 · 10-20-2014, 04:57 PM

Pay them all minimum wage, then have them pay room and board, equipment costs, travel to games, practice time, and pay for university themselves. Problem solved.

Northendzone · 10-20-2014, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think the exact rules vary by league, but generally, yes. And it is one year of university, not just Canadian. They could go to an American college too. One of the silly restrictions though is that it does not include tech schools, CEGEPs, etc. Just universities.

I was under the impression there are several caveats on the CHL scholarship. Some of them being some carefully crafted wording with respect to where a player can go to school relative to where he lives and plays, and there is also a time period they have to cash in - so if you go over to Europe for a couple of season you could be out of luck