KHL president meets Trade Union leader

KHL president Alexander Medvedev met representatives of the league’s Inter-regional Union of Professional Players (IUPP) on November 3 to discuss the current relationship between the league and the players.

Among the agenda items were the effects of anti-crisis measures, the financial obligations of clubs towards players and a draft collective agreement for the 2010-11 season. Salary payments became a big issue in early October, when players at Lada Togliatti were on the verge of strike action over wage arrears. A deal was later reached to avoid cancelling their game with Vityaz Chekhov, and the Rostekhnologii company agreed to take on the club’s financial responsibilities from November 1.

Both the league and union reiterated that no hockey player can appear in the KHL without joining the IUPP, which is to be the only organization representing players’ interests.

Union leader Andrei Kovalenko and KHL first vice-president Vladimir Torzhkov both attended the meeting. It was agreed that regular top-level meetings should be held, and the next is due to take place during the Channel One Cup, held in Moscow in December.