The ongoing battle between the CFL and the CFLPA has taken an interesting turn with the players' association instructing veteran quarterbacks not to attend non-mandatory activities as they try to work out a new collective bargaining agreement.
The CFLPA issued the following statement Sunday stating that a directive has been sent out to all members across the league.
“We have instructed all veteran quarterbacks not to attend voluntary sessions held this week and to align with the decisions our Association will make regarding Training Camps. The directive has been given across the league with the exception of one club, where there is concern by our Association over a pattern of retribution toward players by team management.”
The CFLPA did not elaborate on which team could potentially punish players for skipping voluntary sessions. Teams are set to open rookie camps this week which usually provides quarterbacks with a chance to get some work in before training camp opens.
The current CBA is set to expire on May 14 which is the day before training camps are set to open. The CFLPA has already said that players won't report to training camp without a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement in place.
“We have made it clear we will not report to training camp without a new and fair collective agreement in place before the current agreement expires,” CFLPA president Solomon Elimimian told reporters back on May 6. “We're ready to get a fair deal... at this time we have little confidence the CFL will meet us in getting a fair deal.”
The Players' Association also made it clear that players who decide to travel to camp before a strike begins would be responsible for any costs associated with the work stoppage. The CFLPA held a vote with 95 per cent of players agreeing to give the union the right to strike if a deal could not be reached before the deadline.
Talks between the CFL and CFLPA broke down last week following the league's latest proposal, which included a 10-year deal with no increases to the salary cap and eliminated the Canadian ratio. The CFLPA sent out a memo to members saying key issues remain in the current negotiation despite some middle ground being found.
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 on-field 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.
“With their latest proposal, the CFL is threatening to fundamentally change Canadian football,” Elimimian said. “That worries our bargaining team and membership and the CFL's position should concern fans and league partners as well.
“The latest proposal by the CFL makes the game less safe, less competitive and desirable, provides less stability, dismisses the players' important role as key partners in the game's growth. And it makes it less Canadian.”
With files from the Canadian Press
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.