Music: {allcanada} CHLPA'S BID TO UNIONIZE JUNIOR HOCKEY PLAYERS STALLS IN N.S.

Friday, November 2, 2012

{allcanada} CHLPA'S BID TO UNIONIZE JUNIOR HOCKEY PLAYERS STALLS IN N.S.

HALIFAX - An attempt to unionize junior hockey players suffered a setback in Nova Scotia on Friday when a fledgling association withdrew its certification application with the provincial government.

The Canadian Hockey League Players Association had been trying to unionize the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

But Labour Department spokesman Kevin Finch says a certification vote planned for Friday afternoon was called off when the application was withdrawn.

The cancellation of the vote was the second blow to the association's efforts to represent junior hockey players.

Josh Desmond, a former member of the Halifax Mooseheads, announced he was dropping a complaint over money with the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Division because publicity he's had has been distressing to him and his family.

The 19-year-old said he launched the labour complaint under the guidance of the CHLPA.