The Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) today confirmed that its ECHL membership has commenced job action following the league’s ongoing unfair labor practices, including persistent threats, coercive conduct, and a refusal to bargain in good faith.

Despite nearly a year of bargaining negotiations and sustained efforts by the union to reach a fair and reasonable collective agreement, the parties remain without a deal.

Over the past several days, the PHPA offered to return to work immediately on four separate occasions while continuing negotiations toward a settlement. In each instance, the union asked that if an agreement could not be reached within a short, defined period, the remaining issues be resolved with the assistance of an experienced mediator or arbitrator. Each request was denied by the league.

On Christmas Day, the ECHL presented what it described as a final offer. This proposal failed to meaningfully address key health, safety, and economic issues and misrepresented the impact of the proposed financial changes. The union also is also aware that the league is currently directing teams to engage in unlawful activities, including evictions and the removal of medical benefits, for participating in protected union activity. 

The PHPA has just completed a player rep and leadership call, where members expressed their confidence in their bargaining committee and the process. All questions were answered, and up-to-date information was provided in real-time.

The PHPA has identified the following key issues that remain unresolved:

Travel Between Back-to-Back Games
The PHPA is seeking reasonable limitations on travel between games played on consecutive days in order to address player health and safety.

Holiday Break
The PHPA has requested a league-wide break without travel on December 24, 25, and 26 each season to allow players to spend time with their families during the holidays. 

Guaranteed Contracts
The PHPA is requesting that teams and players be permitted, by mutual agreement, to guarantee contracts for a season to provide stability when players relocate and commit to a city. Such agreements would be optional for both parties and non-binding should a player move to another league. 

Health Benefits
The PHPA is seeking uninterrupted medical coverage during the off-season for qualified players who remain signed, restricted, or under contract, consistent with benefits provided to other full-time staff, rather than the current practice of terminating coverage between July and October.

Group Rights
The PHPA is seeking a standard group licensing framework consistent with other professional sports leagues, including reasonable limits on the use of players’ name, image, and likeness, wearable-technology medical data, and off-ice time commitments. 

Player Compensation
The PHPA is requesting a weekly salary cap of $19,500 for the 2025-26 season, with inflationary increases in subsequent years. This equates to an average weekly wage of $975 for players, who are compensated only during the hockey season. 

The ECHL has refused each of these requests. 

“We recognize how important ECHL hockey is to fans, families, and local communities. Our members are simply seeking reasonable improvements that allow them to work safely and earn a sustainable living while continuing to perform at a high level. We remain ready to continue discussions with the league to reach a fair agreement,” said PHPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay.

Ramsay continued, “Despite the union’s repeated efforts to meet and engage in bargaining, the league has continued to communicate directly with players in a manner that bypasses the union’s role as the exclusive bargaining representative. We continue to receive thousands of messages of overwhelming support from our great fans, brothers and sisters in sport, active and retired players, and communities in and out of the labor movement across North America. They stand with us.”

About the PHPA
Since 1967, the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) has served to advance and advocate on behalf of its members. The PHPA represents more than 1,800 players across 62 teams in the AHL and ECHL, while also serving more than 10,000 former PHPA Members through its Alumni Network. For more information, please visit PHPA.com.

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