By Fox23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Oilers game scheduled for December 26th at 7 p.m. at BOK Center has been postponed due to ongoing contract negotiations between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) which has led to a strike.
The PHPA’s Executive Director Brian Ramsay released a statement on Tuesday stating:
“Earlier today, after sending a written request to the ECHL to resume talks last evening-which went unanswered-the PHPA contacted the ECHL with an offer to avoid missing any games and use a mediation or arbitration process to find a settlement. The ECHL responded within minutes, rejecting any interest in this solution and demanding “significant movement” and concessions from the players. This approach continues to align with the increased threats our membership has faced over the past 18 hours.”
The ECHL in response released a statement saying:
“Unfortunately, union leaders deprived players of the opportunity to vote on our last, best, and final offer – an offer that would dramatically raise player salaries by 20 percent in the first year, boost the per-diem rate, guarantee more off days, and expand the top-of-the-line equipment available to players. We did everything possible to avoid this outcome, and hope that the union leadership will drop its unworkable scheduling demands, let the players vote on our offer, and make it possible for players to return to work.”
The ECHL says the Oilers are working to have a team for their next regularly scheduled home game. You can read the proposals from the ECHL by clicking here.
The Oilers were set to play the Kansas City Mavericks tonight at 7 p.m. at the BOK Center. If you have questions about Oilers tickets, you can call their office at 918-632-7825.
