Don’t report without a labour deal, CFLPA says

TORONTO — Contract talks between the CFL and its players have turned ugly.

The CFL Players’ Association has instructed its players not to make travel arrangements to attend training camps when they open May 19. The union has also informed its membership it has no intention of working past May 18, which is the date the current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire.

The CFLPA made its intentions known in a memo to union members: “Do not agree to book yourself to travel prior to the 18th of May, 2019,” it said. “If travel is already confirmed, please recommunicate to your member clubs that you will be unable to travel until the day of the 18th.

“After consulting with your team player representatives, it is our intention not to work past the 18th of May 2019 without a new signed agreement. We believe it is in everyone’s best interest to conclude collective bargaining and reach an agreement as soon as possible.”

“Having said that, we have informed the league that we as a membership are not prepared to move forward with training camp under the current working conditions.”

The union also said it will communicate again with its membership prior to May 18 regarding whether players should be travelling to camp.

Contract talks between the two sides hit a snag last Wednesday when the CFLPA announced the league had unilaterally decided to delay negotiations for two weeks. Union executive director Brian Ramsay said the CFL set a date of April 29 as the earliest it could resume talks.