WASHINGTON, D.C.: The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and the Professional Hockey Players' Association (PHPA) have officially joined the AFL-CIO, the largest labor federation in the United States, expanding its influence in professional sports.

With this affiliation, the AFL-CIO now represents 63 unions and over 15 million workers, including those in major professional sports leagues. The move comes at a time when collective bargaining negotiations are underway at multiple levels of hockey, strengthening the players' position in labor discussions.

"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 AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler. "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."

The NHLPA represents around 750 players across 32 teams, while the PHPA has 1,800 members in the American Hockey League (AHL) and ECHL. Their decision to align with the AFL-CIO follows similar moves by unions representing players in the NFL, WNBA, Major League Soccer, and the National Women's Soccer League, all of which are already part of the federation's sports council, established in 2022.

"The NHLPA's membership is proud to join the AFL-CIO and its sports council during this important moment in the labor movement," said NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh. "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."

For the PHPA, the affiliation provides additional leverage as it enters collective bargaining talks. "Our members are excited about taking an active role in working towards better outcomes for working people in every sector of the economy," said PHPA executive director Brian Ramsay. "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."