http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/cflpa-preparing-for-potential-labour-stoppage/

 

"Believing they have reached an impasse after four months of negotiations with the Canadian Football League, the CFL Players’ Association is recommending its membership proceed with a strike vote, Sportsnet has learned.

The collective bargaining agreement between the league and players expires May 30, on the eve of training camp. And while both sides are scheduled to meet this Thursday and Friday in Toronto, documents obtained by Sportsnet indicate the union is readying itself for a potential labour stoppage.

“It is the position of your Negotiating Committee that the position of the CFL in relation to almost all matters and their refusal to have the cap in some way connected to revenue are unreasonable,” reads an internal memo written by CFLPA President Scott Flory and distributed to all CFL players last Friday. “As a result, we are recommending that the Players proceed with a strike vote.”

Flory, who did not immediately respond to Sportsnet’s request for comment, has previously stated that the union will not play the 2014 season under terms of the expiring CBA, while both sides negotiate.

Sources told Sportsnet that when the two sides broke on May 2, the league, which declined comment for this story, said it would return this week with further input from governors/owners on making progress toward a new economic model.

Since talks began in February, the CFLPA has been steadfast in its pursuit of revenue sharing, something that wasn’t included in the 2010 deal but has existed between the league and the CFLPA in the past. The league’s negotiation committee has not budged from its stance of having a fixed cap.

At the centre of the debate is a new television deal, reportedly worth $40 million this coming season. The current deal is worth $15.3 million.

Last season’s salary cap was $4.4 million and proposals obtained by Sportsnet show the CFL has offered the following when it comes to player compensation:

2014 – $4,500,000.00
2015 – $4,600,000.00
2016 – $4,650,000.00
2017 – $4,700,000.00
2018 – $4,750,000.00
2019 – $4,800,000.00
2020 – $4,900,000.00
2021 – $5,000,000.00

There are several other points of contention. The CFLPA has proposed a minimum annual player salary of $55,000—with a 10 percent increase annually. The league countered with a $46,000 minimum, which caps at $49,000 in 2021.

The union has proposed practice roster players make no less than $1,000 a week (or $18,000 per season). The league has countered with $750/week, but to increase the practice roster size to 12, from seven, and implement “two-way” contracts, making it easier for teams to release players.

The union is also pushing for an increase to post-season playoff share, and a hike to the Grey Cup bonus cheque, which the league has refused.

One area the two sides have come to terms on is the increase in roster size–from 42 to 44 on game day. The extra two spots would be occupied by a non-import and one designated import. The reserve list would drop from four per game to two.

The CFL has proposed an eight-year collective bargaining agreement, double the length of the current deal. The union wants the duration to be “subject to negotiation.”

A source tied to the league, speaking on the condition of anonymity, believes the tactic of the league and its governors/owners is patience—the thinking being that the union will eventually give in once the risk of losing pay is a legitimate possibility."

League is silly if they don't lock out players.

Twitter all afire with pics of the cflpa voting stations which consist of mini vans in parking lots. Lol

Well, like what were you expecting? These guys are in TC & have practices as well as meetings all day.

I doubt the 10th team parts of the cba are causing issues.

No, but even putting that in a CBA offer from the CFL is ludicrous. Why makes things more difficult than they are?

Because when it gets removed it looks like a concession by the owners, making the players feel better. All part of collective bargaining negotiations.

In most labour arguments I side with the owners, since the players make quite a lot of money and as employees, are required to either play for what the employers are giving you or find a different job. 

 

Since the CFL has grown substantially in the past decade or so and the players still don't make a lot, I side with them on this one.  Told some of them at camp I was rooting for them.

Drew Edwards        ✔@scratchingpost

A source close to the negotiations between the #CFL & #CFLPA says progress has been made today and talks are continuing.

 

 

Drew is a very reliable source, one of the, if not, THE BEST, writer in the league.

 

This has got Good news written all over it.

Fingers firmly crossed...

Let's hope that these talks are enough to keep all involved happy so that we can watch football on Monday night. I'm giddy already.

Was just thinking the same thing. Skipping my rec Slopitch game Monday night so I can finally watch some CFL ball!

Was just thinking the same thing. Skipping my rec Slopitch game Monday night so I can finally watch some CFL ball!

yeah it's been a long damned offseason, need some CFL fix bad 

Gonna find me a whisky and mellow down easy...

you're not getting out to the park to watch it?

3 hour cflpa conference call.

 

This is either, they are telling all players the deal is done or they are gonna walk out shortly. 

 

3 hours is very long.

 

heart wants to say they got a deal done, head and gut know better though. Its to implement their strike strategy cuz how would it take 3 hours to let players now a deal is done.

I think the league (Braley) is being a prick. CFLPA has moved off of revenue sharing... I think Braley & Wettenhall  want to break the union.

3 hour cflpa conference call.

 

This is either, they are telling all players the deal is done or they are gonna walk out shortly. 

 

3 hours is very long.

 

heart wants to say they got a deal done, head and gut know better though. Its to implement their strike strategy cuz how would it take 3 hours to let players now a deal is done.

Strange indeed. I suspect they were either talking about selective strikes prior to televised games or trying to talk membership into accepting a last ditch CFL offer (perhaps a 3 to 5% bump on the cap)

breaking news: the cflpa are watching the kings rangers in OT. 

just saying but i doubt that 2 owners (braley and wettenhall) are actually holding things up, i highly doubt it.

 

sure they own 3 of the 9 teams in the league but... i doubt 2 guys would try to do something to harm the 6 other teams they dont own.

@ArashMadani: From a #CFL players' association source: "Looks like no strike for now..."

@PentonKirk: Just got a call from a #CFL source who is hearing players won't strike tomorrow, could be leaning towards recommending acceptance.

looks like they have reached a tentative deal. according to the twitter feed on the side

looks like they have reached a tentative deal. according to the twitter feed on the side

Thank God. A strike would have been disastrous for both sides.

you're not getting out to the park to watch it?

You're not a diva.....

Ed Tait told me on Twitter that they don't actually have a done deal yet, but they're close enough to go ahead with games.

Ed Tait told me on Twitter that they don't actually have a done deal yet, but they're close enough to go ahead with games.

yeah they do, it's just tentative though, its like.. done but the players and owners need to ratify it.

 

T's to cross, I's to dots... lawyers gotta sign up on it, etc etc

 

it's like when the nhl lockout ended, fehr and bettman came out on tv, said we have reached a deal.. well, that deal wasn't officially signed until a few days to a week or so later. Needed to be ratified or approved by the owners and players.

 

When a deal is reached between those in charge and the league, the deal always gets ratified.

 

Players will vote this through, might not be 100 percent (never is) will be like 90/10 or something ridiculous.

 

That 10 percent will never be known but you could guess who they were by their tweets.

 

Most players on my twitter seem to be more happy that the season is gonna start on time and that they are gonna get to play games soon.

 

Of course there are always the bitter players and those players seem to reside in calgary right now.