“THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANY CFL FOOTBALL THIS YEAR”
TORONTO (CP) – Talks between the CFL and its players on a new collective bargaining agreement broke down Thursday.
Representatives from the CFL left the second day of talks abruptly, and CFL Players’ Association president Scott Flory says the league rejected a new union proposal.
CFL commissioner Mark Cohon says the players rejected a league proposal earlier Thursday.
”The Canadian Football League has sent its best offer for a new collective bargaining agreement directly to the players,” Cohon said in a statement. ”Unfortunately, this best offer was rejected by the CFLPA executive committee this morning. We strongly believe it is a fair and equitable agreement for both parties.
“We want football. We want our season to start on time. But not at the cost of the unrealistic proposal put forward by the CFLPA.”
Flory says the CFLPA came off its original demand of revenue sharing, offering a compromise it called a “Revenue Protection Clause.”
It allowed for a fixed cap, starting at $5.8 million and rising three per cent annually, for a minimum for two years.
After the second year, if there was an increase in revenue on a league-wide basis of more than $12 million, excluding Grey Cup, the parties would renegotiate the cap or the collective bargaining agreement would be jointly terminated at the end of that season.
The union also proposed a one-time bonus to veteran players of a minimum compensation of $15,000 each.
The players’ association was originally asking for a salary cap of $6.24 million.
The two sides met face-to-face Thursday morning following 12 hours of talks on Wednesday.
The league left shortly afterward, presumably with a new union proposal in hand.
Representatives from the league returned for face-to-face talks about two hours later, but left within moments without saying a word.
The current collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players ends at midnight ET, and training camps are scheduled to open on Sunday.
The CFLPA’s Marwan Hage told CHML radio in Hamilton, “We hope we can find a solution but we’re very realistic that if there’s no solution here, there’s a possibility that there might not be any CFL football this year.”
Marwan Hage is blowing smoke and crying wolf. Will only happen if every player decides to retire this year like he did
What a stupid thing to say…maybe he should talk to his players and see if they wanna lose a years salary
I had this ugly feeling in the pit of my stomach that the new President of the CFLPA was going to tray and play hard ball. Man, he's almost from the 1940's Wise Guy's club with those old school scare tactics. There are a lot of players out there that will not be in agreement with their Union.
Right now the CFLPA Union is looking like uneducated goons.
Right now Cohon is looking like the uneducated goof that he is.
The players need to give their heads a shake. Just because the Riders are doing fine doesn't mean the rest of the league is swimming in money. There are many owners who have been losing a lot of money and the free ride needs to stop. Players need this more than the owners!!
The average wage for Canadian employees is currently $928 per week – or just about $48,250 a year. This marks an increase of 2.5% or roughly $1,000 more than we were making at the start of 2013.
When I hear the players complain they can’t live off of $50k a year – I wonder: HOW DO THE FANS WHO PAY TO WATCH YOU LIVE OFF THAT???!
I understand there are physical tolls on your body playing football, but the avg salary of a starting player is probably over 100k.
This strike is about entitlement, nothing less, nothing more
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 with ailments directly resultant from playing the game.
Guess the joke's on me.
Grant the players some compassion and respect.
Agreed, the're the men who put in the sweat equity for the successful (Riders 2013) on field product enjoyed by so many across this country.
The players who played “back-in-the-day” have my respect.
The current players do not. They are paid better, monetize on their public fame, have access to better medicine, and are better able to put money aside for the future.
Ailments affect all regardless of their career and it’s unfortunate when they have trouble paying to heal those ailments.
Labour Relations 101:– Wait until the last minute to start negotiating – check.– play the PR game to get public support on your side – check.– posture but roll up the sleeves at the 11th hours – check.– get close but talks break down, strike vote called – check.– call on the rank & file to reject their union leadership and vote for the last offer – check.– make scary pronouncments like "there might not be any football this season" – check.– no new talks scheduled, but likely some "back-channelling" still going on – check. What's next? – players will… Read more »
The player's proposal is a fair one and should be the basis for settlement.
@sk.obama's know it all CBA predictions/opinion were on this site this morning, they magically/mysteriously disappeared, hmm! Must be off somewhere in left field eating crow. I know, I know, this day not over yet, CFL/CFLPA could strike a deal before the present one expires tonight.
Bud Spud in the Mud
Newfoundland.
what about this:
@TSNScianitti: Scott Flory has left the Sheraton & he sounds emphatic: "We're telling players to report to training camp. We want to play football." #CFLPA
Show us the numbers! How on earth can fans know what makes sense. All we know is a guaranteed jump in TV revenue.
Players should strike because TV folks will quickly show the owners what will really kill the league. TV has more clout than CFLPA.
If there is no CFL this year……there will be no CFL ever. When Cohon says 2/3 of CFL Teams will not make money, he can't be giving us an untruth…..over the last 20 years all we have seen is teams folding and losing money. If the players feel their bodies are being abused to much for what they receive in income then give up the game and get on with a real job you will have to do in life anyway……trashing the institution of the CFL that has been here for 101 years is on Scott Flory.
Comments such as yours trashing the institution of the CFL.
Cohen can't be giving us an untruth?? But wont open the books. So under the old TV deal 2/3 of the teams lost an average of $2M? Correct?
Read Vanstone re: wasting money on guaranteed coaches. How many coaches do we have now? Once had 3. Poor business people who can't market their product before. Now want to go cheap on the product.
"Read Vanstone re: wasting money on guaranteed coaches. How many coaches do we have now? Once had 3. Poor business people who can't market their product before. Now want to go cheap on the product." Owners/Shareholders of companies have every right to put people in the positions to get the results they are looking for. ie Google paid a severance of 50M after 1 year of service to their top exec. because they weren’t getting the desired results, only to hire another for a similar salary Coaches and GM’s are put in a position to put talent on the field… Read more »
Wow Mr Pedersen, pretty picky about what you post and don't post about this labour dispute. You've turned into quite the company man.
I read Vanstone's article and he raises some good points. Riders brought on Cortez and with Richie and Cory running the Defensive backs we had some high priced Coaches. Wonder if we would have left Bob Dyce at OC….would we have won the Grey Cup. If we would have retained Greg Marshall for his 3 year contract what would have happened to the team. Taking Austin over Cortez should be a no brainer….sorry George….but all this costs money. Having good coaches in my opinion is far more important than good players…..having both is even more important. Perhaps a fairer way… Read more »
For the past 50 years the CFL has been a league seen hanging onto life by its fingernails. Toronto, the Riders, Calgary, Ottawa (twice) Hamilton & Montreal have a history of death bed resuscitations or actual deaths. None of the teams are real money makers so I hope the players are aware of this when making salary demands.
To Anonymous who said, "The players who played “back-in-the-day” have my respect. The current players do not. They are paid better, monetize on their public fame, have access to better medicine, and are better able to put money aside for the future. Ailments affect all regardless of their career and it’s unfortunate when they have trouble paying to heal those ailments." I have tremendous respect and admiration for the players who play the game today. The talent in the league has never been better. You are clearly another of the clueless internet banter brigade. Why would you respect the players… Read more »