CBA talks underway in downtown Toronto

The CFL and CFLPA have begun collective bargaining discussions in downtown Toronto.

Initial @cfl @cflpa negotiations begin today and continues Tuesday in Toronto. Meetings began at 10am ET. Don’t expect major developments;hearing sides will meet,present CBA proposals,then break into separate rooms to review documents. Process expected to take all day #CFL #CFLPA

— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) March 11, 2019

The current CBA expires on May 18, ending a five-year agreement that was ratified on June 13, 2014 – nearly a month after the original deadline.

Members of the #CFL CBA negotiating team:
Randy Ambroise, Commissioner Steve Shamie, lead counsel
Wade Miller, #Bombers President
Scott Mitchell, #Ticats CEO
Rick LeLacheur, #BCLions President
Roger Greenberg, #RedBlacks #CFLPA

— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) March 11, 2019

The players want respect along with fair treatment from the league while Randy Ambrosie wants to save the CFL’s side of the negotiations for the bargaining table.

#CFLPA negotiating team includes
Ken Georgetti, lead negotiator
Art Vertlieb, #CFLPA counsel
Bryan Ramsay, PA executive
Jeff Keeping, PA executive
Peter Dyakowski PA executive #CFL

— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) March 11, 2019

Split of league revenues will certainly be discussed. NHL players receive approximately 50 per cent of league revenues while the NBA is at between 49 and 51 per cent. NFL players get between 46.5 and 48 per cent while the MLB is around 50 per cent. While neither league or the union will confirm the numbers, it’s clear CFL players receive significantly less – and want to change it.

According to the CFLPA, the league office issued a directive to the teams instructing them not to pay signing bonuses, roster bonuses and report and pass bonuses starting Jan. 1, 2019 – despite the fact that the collective agreement is not slated to expire until May 15 of that year.