CFL submits 10-year collective bargaining agreement proposal to players’ association: report

Photo courtesy: CFL

The Canadian Football League has submitted a proposal to the players’ association on a new collective bargaining agreement that would lock them in for 10 years, according to a report from Sportsnet’s Arash Madani.

“Per sources: The CFL today made a new CBA proposal to CFLPA. One of the many back-and-forths ahead.

I’m told the league wants to lock players into a 10-year agreement. Laughable.

Locking into a deal that long won’t get players a share of potential new revenues. On it goes.”

The existing collective agreement between the CFL and players’ association was ratified in 2019 and amended prior to the 2021 season to help facilitate a safe return under pandemic restrictions — it is set to expire on May 14.

On Monday, CFLPA membership voted 95 percent in favour of giving the union permission to strike should an agreement not be reached before training camp. The vote is part of the standard process of collective bargaining, but provides considerable pressure as the deadline looms.

Players took a massive financial hit over the course of the pandemic but appear to be on more trusting footing with the league than in years past, in part due to increased financial transparency. However, the league’s desire to reduce the Canadian ratio and unwillingness to provide financial guarantees has proved to be divisive in negotiations.

A long term agreement without significant increases to the players’ revenue share is unlikely to play well with CFLPA membership. With the exception of the current three-year agreement, the other four most recent CBAs were either five (2014-2019) or four year deals (2010-2013, 2006-2009, 2002-2005).