CFL rejects latest proposal from CFLPA

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This article was published 03/06/2014 (4155 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Another day and another offer rejected in the ongoing labour discussions between the CFL and its players’ union.

Late Monday night the players tabled a new offer to the league that would see the cap be set at $5.2 million in the first year and then rise by $260,000 per year over a four-year term to $6 million.

The league has turned down the offer and the players are moving closer to being in a strike position. The old CBA expired last Thursday and players on teams across the country were legally in a strike position, however, labour laws in Alberta prevent those players from striking until Friday.

In the latest offer from the players, the first year’s cap would not include one-time ratification bonuses of $8,500 per veteran and $1,500 per rookie which would add close to $400,000 in Year 1 making the actual cost per team in the neighbourhood of $5.6 million.

The last offer from the league was for a Year 1 cap of $5 million rising by $50,000 each year to $5,150,000 in the fourth and final year of the deal.

Offers exchanged last week by the players and league included a revenue protection clause which would kick in if league revenues hit a certain threshold. Once this number is achieved, the CBA must be reopened and the salary cap renegotiated. The players first offer was for a threshold of $12 million while the league set it’s number at $27 million.

The latest offer from the players moves the threshold to $18 million.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @garylawless

POKER CFL STYLE

The CFLPA pushed another offer in the direction of the league on Monday night but it was turned down with no counter-offer from the league. Commissioner Mark Cohon made an offer to the players last week calling it his best and final offer. Here’s a look at where the players are now, where the league remains and the major financial differences in the deals.

CFLPA’s LATEST OFFER

The key elements in the CFLPA proposal tabled Monday includes a salary cap that starts at $5.2 million and rises to $6 million by the end of a four-year term. The first year’s cap would not include one-time ratification bonuses of $8,500 per veteran and $1,500 per rookie which would add close to $400,000 in Year 1 making the actual cost per team in the neighbourhood of $5.6 million.

Offers exchanged last week by the players and league included a revenue protection clause which would kick in if league revenues hit a certain threshold. Once this number is achieved, the CBA must be reopened and the salary cap renegotiated. The players first offer was for a threshold of $12 million and the latest offer from the players moves the threshold to $18 million of increased revenue after three seasons of the new CBA.

THE CFL OFFER

The league’s offer calls for a cap of $5 million with ratification bonuses of $5,000 per veteran and $1,500 per rookie which averages out around $250,000 per team. The cap would rise at a rate of $50,000 per season over a term of five years plus an option and would have a similar revenue growth protection clause that would kick in at $27 million as early as 2016 in the third year of the agreement.

Last year’s salary cap was set at $4.4 million.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT

Year 1: CFLPA deal calls for cap of $5.2 million and salary costs including bonuses in the $5.6 million range. The CFL offer sets cap at $5 million and salary costs including bonuses around $5.25 million.

Year 2: CFLPA deal raises cap by $400,000 to $5.6 million. CFL deal raises cap by $50,000 to $5.05 million.

Year 3: CFLPA deal raises cap by $200,000 to $5.8 million and revenue protection kicks in at $18 million. CFL deal raises cap by $50,000 to $5.1 million and revenue protection kicks in at $27 million

Year 4: CFLPA deal raises cap by $200,000 to $6 million. CFL deal raises cap by $50,000 to $5.15 million.