According to the source, CFL players voted against ratifying the tentative deal reached Wednesday between the league and CFL Players’ Association. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity Monday as neither the CFL nor the CFL Players’ Association immediately confirmed the vote.
But news of the rejection is somewhat surprising given there were reports one team’s players were still voting on the deal.
The CFL and CFLPA reached a tentative seven-year agreement Wednesday, four days after players with seven of the league’s nine teams went on strike. It marked just the second work stoppage in league history and first since 1974.
The CFLPA executive recommended acceptance of the deal, which featured increases to the CFL salary cap ($100,000 annually starting next year) and minimum salary (from $65,000 to $75,000 by 2027). It also included a revenue-sharing formula for the union and gave players a chance to have the final year of their contracts guaranteed up to 50 per cent.
And while the CBA called for a return to padded practices — one hour weekly during the regular season to a maximum of 12 — it extended medical coverage for retired players to five years from three.
The deal also called for the number of Canadian starters to increase from seven to eight but that would include a nationalized Canadian — an American who has spent either five years in the CFL or at least three with the same team. In addition, three other nationalized Canadians could play up to 49 per cent of all snaps on either side of the ball.
And that bothered many current Canadian players, to the point where there were legitimate concerns whether the CBA would be ratified. The rejection of the agreement only creates more uncertainty with the exhibition season — which had been amended because of the earlier stoppage — scheduled to begin Friday night with two games.
The regular season is slated to start on June 9.
What’s unclear now is what’s next and whether players will immediately go back on strike or continue practising while the union and league return to the bargaining table? It’s also unknown if the CFLPA’s bargaining unit will remain intact or is the players’ rejection of the agreement it endorsed mean changes within that negotiating team.
On Monday, CFLPA executive member Henoc Muamba said while the tentative deal had his support, if it wasn’t good enough for a majority of union members, he’d be prepared to return to the bargaining table on their behalf.
“Being a team rep and (union) vice-president as well, I try to have a good feel for the room,” Muamba said. “The last few days I’ve had many great conversations with a bunch of guys.
“The hardest thing for a committee is you must be able to have a representation but you also want to have a good feel for the guys within the locker room. You want to have good communication with them so you can represent them as best as possible. If things change, well, listen, you must be able to adjust on the fly.”
Muamba joined the CFLPA hierarchy in Montreal on Friday to discuss the deal with players. Muamba is not only a former Alouette but also speaks both officials languages.
The visit came after Canadian linebacker Chris Ackie, an Alouettes player rep, suggested the agreement could be rejected.
Toronto was one of the seven teams that began training camp Thursday — Edmonton and Calgary reported for the May 15 start because they weren’t in a legal strike position then. Before news that the deal had been rejected, Muamba said if that was indeed the case, the union would try kick-starting contract talks buoyed by the knowledge it’s what most of the membership wants.
“I think the committee will be more comfortable to push further knowing they have the strength and confidence of the membership behind them,” he said.
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