CFL union walks out of talks
CFL, CFLPA sparring over Canadian ratio; salary cap, injuries
TORONTO — Contact talks between the CFL and CFL Players’ Association have broken down.
In a memo sent out to its players, the CFLPA said it rejected the league’s proposal for a 10-year deal that called for no increases to the salary cap and eliminated the Canadian ratio.
The union added Thursday night it walked away from talks after the CFL demanded players arrive at training camp even if a strike is imminent.
The current agreement is set to expire May 14, with training camps slated to open the following day.
The CFL pre-season is scheduled to kick off on May 23 with Winnipeg at Saskatchewan.
In the memo, the union stated it was planning a membership meeting Friday afternoon so discuss the state of contract talks.
The CFLPA also said it asked the league Monday not to require players to arrive in their respective cities the day before start of camp “if a strike is imminent.” It added that request was rejected.
“Presently, the league insists that even if a strike is imminent, players must travel from their homes for a single day before training camp begins,” the memo stated. “The league refuses to provide players’ costs to return to their homes.
“The league has threatened our association with a lawsuit if we were to tell you that a strike is imminent and not travel to training camp. Furthermore, the league has put an ultimatum to accept their position on players reporting to camp, or they would refuse to continue negotiations with us.”
As a result, the CFLPA said negotiations ended Thursday before noon ET “as we refused their offer.”
The union said it and the league “have been able to find common ground on a number of issues,” but there remain several key issues. The memo included:
— A 10-year agreement with no increases to the salary cap. That figure was $5.35 million last season
— A revenue-sharing program the union states is “not likely to show any significant growth by the CFL’s own accord, until the TSN contract is renewed in five years.”
— Earlier in negotiations, the two sides spoke about guaranteed contracts, but “the CFL has now removed the PA’s proposal to allow players to negotiate guaranteed contracts.”
— The league wants teams to return to padded practices, “even with a decrease of 35 per cent of onfield injuries, yet refuses to support our proposal for coverage for those same on-field injuries.”
— the elimination of the Canadian ratio and veteran American ratio as well as a reduction of Canadians on the roster. In the current agreement, CFL rosters must include 21 Canadians, of which seven must be starters.
The CFL issued two statements via social media Friday, the second of which dealt with establishing a partnership with the players.
“We are deeply committed to a long term, mutually beneficial partnership with our players,” the second tweet said. “This was true when this bargaining process started and it will be true when we reach a collective bargaining agreement and beyond.”
A couple of hours earlier, the CFL tweeted: “Canadian players are the lifeblood of the CFL game, along with the veteran American players who make a career here. That will not change.”