TSN cash bone of contention in new CFL players’ deal

Collective bargaining talks between the CFL and its players’ union get underway on Thursday, and one of the most contentious points of this new contract will be how to divvy-up the cash infusion the league receives from the new TV contract it signed last year with TSN.

The 2014 CFL regular season begins exactly 18 weeks from Thursday, and during that time, the league and the player’s association hope to hammer out a new collective agreement.

CFLPA president Mike Morreale says the two sides definitely have their work cut out for them.

“No one wants to have a season that doesn’t start on time. We are all of the idea — the CFL, the players — that we want to have everyone that we want to have labour peace and move forward.”

Morreale says there are a number of negotiating points, one of which will be increasing the current $45-thousand dollar minimum player salary.

“It was fine when we negotiated the last CBA, or else we wouldn’t have agreed to it. But I also believe that these players, they put a lot on the line.”

The CFL and TSN signed a new broadcasting agreement last May, which is reported to be worth as much as $40 million per year. That’s more than two-and-a-half times as much as the previous five-year deal.

“I’m glad that players are gonna have the opportunity to share in that — and that’s really the point that we want to make. We just want a fair share in whatever new revenues are brought upon, because it’s the backs of the players that brought it there.”

If a deal is not struck before the regular season begins, Morreale says the existing contract will carry over as long as the two sides keep negotiating.
The last time the CFL players went on strike was exactly 40 years ago.