When I was growing up, my mom worked for the telephone company. She was part of the union. I remember her going on the picket line a few times and I asked her why. She told me that she wanted to be provided with a better wage and health benefits that would cover us better. The battle was between the union and the company and there was no blurring of lines.
The NHL is a league made up of teams who hire players to play. The players have a union that negotiate on their behalf. That’s where my comparison stops.