(Washington, D.C.) —Two of professional hockey’s North American players’ associations—the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA)—announced today they are formally affiliating with the AFL-CIO and joining its Sports Council.
The NHLPA represents approximately 750 professional hockey players across 32 teams in the NHL, while the PHPA represents approximately 1,800 professional hockey players across 61 teams in the American Hockey League and the ECHL. Their membership brings the total number of unions under the nation’s largest labor federation to 63, representing more than 15 million workers.
“Whether our work is on the rink, in the classroom or on the factory floor, every worker deserves a voice on the job and the power that comes with union membership,” said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO. “We are thrilled to welcome the NHLPA and the PHPA into the federation and our Sports Council, and we look forward to supporting their work to ensure strong union contracts, fair wages, safe working conditions and professional development opportunities for professional hockey players. On the heels of SEIU’s affiliation earlier this month, America’s labor movement is more unified than ever. We will continue to channel that strength and momentum into the fight for workers’ rights.”
“The NHLPA’s membership is proud to join the AFL-CIO and its Sports Council during this important moment in the labor movement,” said Marty Walsh, executive director of the NHLPA. “We look forward to working together with other players’ associations and unions from across North America to ensure that workers in all industries have a collective voice in fighting for fair wages and safe and equitable workplaces.”
“We are so proud to be part of the 15 million-member AFL-CIO and their Sports Council, and our members are excited about taking an active role in working towards better outcomes for working people in every sector of the economy,” said Brian Ramsay, executive director of the PHPA. “As we begin collective bargaining negotiations, our members will now enjoy the full support of the AFL-CIO at the bargaining table. This is what solidarity is all about.”
The AFL-CIO Sports Council was formed in 2022 to build power across unions in the sports industry, amplify the voices of athletes and shine a light on the challenges they face as workers. It also aligns interests in areas of common concern with service, hospitality and other workers who support the professional sports industries. The Sports Council includes unions with members across professional sports: the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA), the USL Players Association-CWA (USLPA-CWA), the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), the Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA).
