The Indy Fuel announced Friday that their scheduled game against the Fort Wayne Komets has been postponed amid a growing labor dispute between the ECHL and the league’s players.
In a statement released by the team, the Fuel said the postponement is tied to collective bargaining negotiations between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) and the union’s decision for the ECHL players to go on strike.
“This is likely going to lead to the postponement of some games, and we will be in direct communication with our fans about any home games that will be postponed or rescheduled,” the team said.
The Fuel were scheduled to play at Fort Wayne on Friday night, travel to Wheeling on Saturday and host the Toledo Walleye on Sunday at Fishers Event Center. With the strike notice now in effect, the status of the remaining games this weekend is uncertain.
The PHPA announced that its ECHL membership had served a strike notice effective December 26, following a strike authorization mandate delivered on December 18. The union said the action was taken in response to what it described as ongoing unfair labor practices by the league.
According to the PHPA, those practices include unilateral changes to mandatory subjects of bargaining and regressive negotiations. The union has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board.
PHPA Executive Director Brian Ramsay said players are seeking improved standards related to health, safety and working conditions.
“We are asking for basic standards around health, safety and working conditions that allow the players to remain healthy, compete at a high level and build sustainable professional careers,” Ramsay said, adding that the union remains willing to continue negotiations.
The ECHL strongly disputed the union’s claims and placed responsibility for the work stoppage on PHPA leadership. In a statement, the league said union leaders prevented players from voting on what it described as its “last, best, and final offer.”
The league said that proposal would immediately raise player salaries by 20 percent in the first year, increase per diem rates, guarantee additional days off and expand access to top-tier equipment. The ECHL said it hopes union leaders will drop what it called “unworkable scheduling demands,” allow a vote on the offer and make it possible for players to return to work.
For the Indy Fuel, the dispute creates uncertainty for players, fans and arena operations during one of the busier stretches of the season. Sunday’s scheduled home game against Toledo is typically among the team’s stronger draws.
The Fuel said fans should monitor team communications for updates regarding postponed or rescheduled games. No timetable has been announced for when ECHL play could resume if the strike continues.