Riders’ trio lashes out against union brass
SASKATOON — Some prominent Saskatchewan Roughriders disapprove of a new five-year collective bargaining agreement ratified by the CFLPA.
Quarterback Darian Durant, guard Brendon LaBatte and defensive end Ricky Foley called for the five members of the CFLPA executive committee to resign even though the CBA was ratified by the players Thursday and the owners on Friday. The agreement ended a contentious negotiation that had the CFL on the brink of a work stoppage.
“The fault lies on our (CFLPA) executive committee,’’ Foley said Friday before the Riders returned to Regina after ending the Saskatoon portion of their training camp. “They screwed us and that’s point-blank. I think they should resign. I don’t think we should have a nonconfidence vote or we should have to go through the elective process. They should have to resign. They should sit there, humble themselves, realize they screwed us and have to resign and let us be better in the future.’’
None of the executive members was available for comment on Friday.
Results of the players’ vote were not released, but the Riders are believed to be the only CFL team to vote against the proposed CBA. That’s in line with the opinions that many of the Riders have held since the majority of the teams supported a strike before training camp.
“I don’t want to say ‘glad,’’’ Durant told reporters. “It is what it is. We just have to accept it, but I definitely think there should be some change on the committee. The numbers speak for themselves. If you look at the deal and what we accepted, without putting forth any fight ... it’s just not what we pay our union guys for. They’re supposed to fight on our behalf. For them to give in like they did, I think they all should be out of there.’’
There were many players who voiced and tweeted their displeasure with the deal, which includes a $5-million salary cap in the first year, more than $1.2 million less than the union initially sought. It’s still a $600,000 increase over last season.
The players wanted a bigger share of the league’s new revenue, including a deal with TSN that is worth $43 million a season over five years. The previous deal was reportedly worth $17 million.
The CBA runs through May 15, 2019, or the first day of training camp that year. If the combined revenues of the nine teams — excluding those generated by the Grey Cup — increase to more than $27 million in any year of the agreement, the sides will renegotiate an increase in the cap starting in the 2016 season.