CFL labour talks break down

(Update)
The CFL head office had been laying low staying out of the media spotlight when it came to its negotiations with the players for a new collective bargaining agreement but today shortly after this morning’s bargaining session broke off, Commissioner Mark Cohon went on the offensive, issuing letters to the individual players that detailed the league’s proposal for a new contract, which would see the salary cap increase from $4.4 million to $4.8 million this season, with increases over 5 years until the cap reaches just over $5 million. The average salary would go from almost $83-thousand to just under $93-thousand. Those are the league’s figures. The players association says the average salary was $71-thousand last year. the minimum salary would increase from $45-thousand to $50-thousand.

As far as player safety and welfare are concerned, the CFL says it will increase game day rosters from 42 to 44. It would also limit the number of full-contact practices to one per week during the regular season. Cohon spoke to the media this afternoon.

The current CBA is scheduled to expire May 30th, the day before the start of training camps. The regular season is set to kickoff on June 26th. Right now, it looks like the start of the season is on standby.

The Canadian Football League is doing pretty well these days and the players want their piece of the pie. But the CFL is saying that the piece of the pie the players want is too big and their appetite threatens the very existence of the CFL. And that’s why labour negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement are at a standstill, they broke off this morning, and a players strike is looming large.

Commissioner Cohon issued a contract proposal this morning, the league’s latest move after a previous offer to the CFLPA was rejected last week. The players tabled an offer yesterday in which they ask for a salary cap increase from $4.4 million to $6.24 million this season. The players want the salary cap to be based on the sharing of revenue streams. Television revenue this season will more than double to almost $4.5 million per team. The players want a share of the wealth.

The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on May 30th, a day before training camps are scheduled to open. In a move that the team says is unrelated to the labour talks impasse, the Ticats have cancelled their rookie camp that was slated for the 31st.

Additional video: News Now coverage of the players’ association news conference: