CFL LABOUR PAINS
TORONTO (CP) – A look at the two offers in the CFL’s labour negotiations:
CFL OFFER
– Increase average player salary by 12 per cent this season to $92,917 with a further increase over the following five years
– Increase salary cap by nine per cent from $4.4 million to $4.8 million per team
– Increase minimum salary by $5,000 to $50,000 with a further increase to $55,000 over the following five years
– Salary cap would also rise by $100,000 per team if the CFL receives more television revenue from TSN under a renegotiated broadcast agreement for each remaining year of the collective bargaining agreement
– Maintain the $450,000 annual payment to the CFLPA for player marketing and other rights
– Ratification bonus of $3,000 to veteran players and $1,000 to rookies on a team roster by June 22 if this deal is ratified on or before June 2
– Two players would be added to each team’s active roster and the number of regular-season contact practices would immediately be restricted
– All current player pension, medical plan and life insurance benefits maintained along with the league’s annual payments for player counselling and rehabilitation support under the CFL-CFLPA Drug Policy
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CFL PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION OFFER
– Increase salary cap to $6.24-million cap with a $5.84-million minimum. The ’15 cap would be determined from the gross average revenue of seven clubs – excluding the top and lowest-grossing franchises
– Players would receive 55 per cent of gross revenues from TV rights, pay TV rights, radio, Internet and any other form of broadcast or telecast of CFL games, 45 per cent of revenues from sponsorship and licensing and 40 per cent of tickets to pre-season and regular-season games, including the sale of luxury boxes, licenses and any other revenue related to the public attending at games
– Boosting the minimum salary to $50,000 from $45,000 this year and $1,000 annual increases over the term of the deal
– Increasing pre-season compensation to $600 a week for a one-year veteran, $800 a week for a two-year veteran and $1,000 a week for a player of three or more seasons
– Players on first-place teams would earn $5,000 each as well as $5,000 for playing in a conference semifinal and $7,500 for participating in the division final
– Grey Cup-winning share would increase from $16,000 to $20,000 and finalists would earn $10,000, up from $8,000 last year
– Clubs contribute $5,000 to pensions with players paying $4,000
– Independent neurologists on the sidelines
Maybe the Riders should take the lead on all of this negotiation mess. The team should just go spend an extra million dollars on players showing you can afford it. We give ourselves a good chance of winning then and then players will want to come here since we win and spend. Sure we get fined and have to pay it but who cares if we win. We win, this teams makes tons of money. Then if would likely force other teams to do and demonstrate that the leagues can do this with all the teams, forcing the hand of… Read more »
What the CFL proposed is reasonable and fair.
What the players are proposing is reasonable and fair. Football players have a short "earning window" with a better than "good" chance at long term health issues.
Back in the day, the league contributed $500 to a player's pension and the player matched it.
No one ever counted on it being substantial.
To all you fans who don't seem to grasp the future physical consequences for many who play the game, check this fun fact out.
I drew my pension at 55. Absolutely no point in waiting until 65.
How's this for IRONY? The pension doesn't quite cover the monthly pharmaceutical bill required to deal ailments directly resultant from playing the game. Guess the joke's on me.
Grant the players some compassion and respect.
Thank you for the info and comment,
Much respect.