CBA Is Step in Right Direction for the PWHL

On August 29, the Professional Women’s Hockey League — PWHL for short — announced their official name, unveiled their new website, and disclosed their Collective Bargaining Agreement to the masses. 

When a new league arises, one of the things athletes think about before signing a contract is whether or not the league or team they are signing with is set up for short-term and long-term success. For the 18 players who signed during the PWHL’s inaugural free agency this past week, it looks like the league is set up for longevity.

“I think the infrastructure is designed for success,” said Toronto’s Blayre Turnbull. “In the past, I don’t think we’ve had that, which is why we haven’t had successful leagues.” She went on to add, “I think one thing that everybody is sure of now is that this league will succeed because we have the infrastructure and the people in place to make sure that happens.”

One of the reasons why there is confidence in the infrastructure of the newly minted PWHL is because of the CBA that Kendall Coyne Schofield (Minnesota), Brianne Jenner (Ottawa), Sarah Nurse (Toronto), and Hilary Knight (Boston) helped bring to fruition through countless hours of negotiations. Abby Roque (New York) was so excited about the CBA, she immediately dove into the nitty gritty details the moment the final copy entered her inbox. From meals at the rink to proper travel accommodations, newly signed players and draft eligible players are excited for what the future holds. Why? Because the league’s CBA treats these players like full-time professional athletes instead of part-time athletes. “It’s huge for us. Because to be professional, you really need to be treated as if you are,” said Roque. “I think looking through all that stuff. It was really great to see.”

After spending hours perusing the CBA, I found a lot of things which provide stability for the future of the league. Below are five things I liked the most in the CBA.

Article 9.7 – Pregnancy Benefit

“The League must continue a Benefits Eligible Player’s base Salary and all other benefits in the event of pregnancy until the earlier of such time as the Player is cleared to return to play by both the Player’s medical doctor and a Team physician or the end of the League Season in which pregnancy-related disability commences. A difference of opinion between the two (2) physicians shall be resolved consistent with the procedure in Section 11.4.”

Something Minnesota GM Jayna Hefford and forward Kendall Coyne Schofield continually touched on during their media availability on September 6 was the importance of not having to choose between your career and having a family.  “Why not both” was a sentiment both echoed throughout the day. 

Oftentimes, women put their dreams of having a family on the back burner so that they can continue along their path of also having a successful career. The pregnancy benefit of the CBA allows players to have the opportunity to move their life forward both career-wise and family-wise.

Article 9.9 – Nursing

“Upon a Player’s request, the PWHL shall ensure that the Player’s Team identifies and makes available (a) accommodations for nursing Players that provide a comfortable, safe, clean, private place that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from others; (b) access to refrigeration for breastmilk; and (c) reasonable opportunities or other breaks for the purpose of pumping breast milk. It is understood that a bathroom is not an acceptable accommodation.”

Nursing is another thing women have to take into account while working.  It can be awkward and uncomfortable to have to use a bathroom to pump that everyone else may have to use, especially if the bathroom does not have more than one stall or an outlet in case batteries die. 

On top of that, women don’t always have access to refrigerator to chill their breast milk.  Pumped milk can be stored at room temperature for up to four hours.  However, being a working mom means you likely have to be away from a home for more than four hours.

Article 9.9 alleviate some of the stress women experience when trying to come back to work post-partum.

Around the PWHL

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• Inaugural PWHL Draft : Who, When, and How to Watch
• In Hainsight: Chevrie Appointed as Head Coach of Montreal’s PWHL Franchise
• PWHL Names Head Coaches for Inaugural Season

Article 27.5 – Game Frequency

“Except in exigent circumstances, the PWHL will not schedule a Team for more than four (4) games in any seven (7) day period and no Team shall play on three (3) consecutive days.”

Proper rest is key to having a successful, healthy, and long career in sports. However, some leagues (such as the AHL) feature three games in three days multiple times a season.  From the staff to players to media, it can be absolutely grueling to be a part of a three-in-three. 

It was very smart of the PWHL to add this rule to their CBA. 

Article 12.2 – Hotel Accommodations

“Hotel accommodations must be comparable to a TripAdvisor two-star class hotel, or better. Players shall be provided with rooms with no more than two (2) Players per room, with the option to upgrade to a single room at their own cost, except that Players traveling with a child under three (3) years of age will be provided a single room. The Team must provide transportation from the hotel to the venue for both the Players and their equipment. Players who want to upgrade to a single room must provide the Team with at least fourteen (14) days’ advance notice. The PWHL will make good-faith efforts to accommodate Players in hotels no more than fifteen (15) miles from the venue in which they will be playing.”

One of the things I like the most about the hotel accommodations is the fact that the players have a maximum of two people per room.  As I mentioned earlier, adequate rest is necessary for the health and well-being of athletes and the longevity of their career. If you have three to four people crammed into one room, the amount of rest you’re going to get the night before a game is going to be minimal. This article of the CBA allows players to maximize their opportunity to rest by creating space for them to be alone, or basically alone, to prepare for games.

Section 8.1 – Minimum Salary

“(a) For a Player employed by the PWHL, excluding Reserve Players, the minimum annualized base Salary during the first year of this Agreement (excluding any incentive or performance compensation) shall be $35,000. In the first year of this Agreement, no more than nine (9) Players on each Team may be paid the minimum Salary, except in the case of Section 8.1(b), below.

(b) Players on a Short-Term SPA outlined in Section 7.7(b), above, shall be paid no less than the pro-rated minimum Salary (with the numerator of such pro-ration equal to the number of calendar days for which the Player is signed to a Short-Term SPA and the denominator of such pro-ration equal to the total number of calendar days in that League Season) for such period for each SPA.

(c) The minimum annual base Salary shall be increased in the 2024- 2025 League Year, and in every subsequent year of this Agreement, by three percent (3.0%).

(d) Subject to Section 8.2, below, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prevent the PWHL and a Player from negotiating a higher Salary and/or performance compensation in the Player’s SPA, or from allowing the PWHL to provide additional compensation pursuant to sponsorship arrangements.

(e) Payment of Player Salaries shall be in consecutive bi-weekly installments (unless greater frequency is required by applicable law), and period installments (e.g., monthly or weekly) shall be prorated for any portion of a period in which the Player is employed by the PWHL.”

You can read the PWHL’s CBA here.