Is The CFL Really Going To Be Hit With Labour Unrest?

It seems as if the chances are high. This is from Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette....


Canadian Football League players are being advised by their union of the possibility of a work stoppage in June.
And that means they should be saving their money.
Stu Laird, president of the CFL Players' Association (CFLPA), has sent two confidential emails to every league player - including one on Monday - painting a bleak picture prior to the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on June 5, one day before training camps are scheduled to start.
The Gazette has obtained copies of those emails, along with the CFLPA's latest proposals.
"It continues to be the opinion of the executive committee that a CFL management lockout of the players is a very real possibility," Laird wrote.
"Players should ensure they're taking the necessary financial steps at this time, in anticipation that there may be no training camp paycheques on June 6, 2010."
Laird stresses to the players the need to remain unified.
The CFLPA's bargaining committee is scheduled to meet with the league's Players Relations Committee (PRC) in Toronto on April 26. There have been no negotiations since late October. That has led to charges from the CFLPA that the PRC is not seriously attempting to resolve the issue.
Although the two sides met in Edmonton on Feb. 25, no negotiations occurred. Instead, the PRC requested clarification on a number of points contained in the CFLPA's proposal.
The lawyers for both sides then exchanged questions and largely opposing views on the possible issues arising from a strike or lockout, Laird advised the players in his original email.
These issues included the ability to use replacement players, the ability of the teams to operate during a strike or lockout, and the continuation of the standard player contract in the event of a lockout.
The union wanted to meet management in early March, but was advised there was no purpose in scheduling a session.
"The reason for our eagerness to receive a response to our proposal is to help determine if the PRC is serious about wanting to reach an agreement quickly or whether the tactic of the PRC is to delay further and increase the likelihood of a lockout," Laird wrote.
A public-disclosure blackout is in place regarding all issues concerning the CBA. Forty-eight hours' notice prior to either party going to the media must be given before any details of the negotiations can be released.
With so much at stake on both sides, it would be surprising if a settlement isn't reached. The majority of players are paid only from June through November and are hardly striking it rich.
The average CFL salary is slightly below $60,000 a year. Based on last season's salary survey, 22 players were paid less than $42,000, according to the CFLPA.
At the same time, the league's two primary revenue streams come from television, which brings an annual yield of about $15 million, and gate revenues. That means the owners - even some of the western-based community-owned clubs - would also be affected by any potential work interruption.
But it's clear the CFL means business this time. The league was represented by Edmonton Eskimos president Rick LeLacheur, who worked in conjunction with several team governors on the current four-year deal that's about to expire. Hugh Campbell, a former Eskimos player, head coach and executive, helped negotiate the previous deal. This time, however, the CFL has hired labour lawyer Stephen Shamie.
It was speculated last season the league wanted to reduce to four from seven the number of Canadian-born players that must start on a 42-man roster, composed of 22 Americans and 20 non-imports, the rationale being that teams can find Americans more cheaply.
Asked about this in November at his annual Grey Cup news conference, CFL commissioner Mark Cohon repeatedly stated: "We understand the importance of Canadians."
Nonetheless, it's believed training camps will proceed and exhibition games will be played. Coincidentally, the preseason schedule concludes on June 20 and the opening regular-season game isn't until July 1. Any lockout could occur between those dates.
The contentious issues appear to be the percentage players receive from revenues taken in by the CFL. Players get 56 per cent of defined team revenues on a league-wide basis. The league wants to eliminate that percentage. The CFLPA will agree - but only for the first three years of a four-year agreement.
The CFLPA is also proposing an increase to compensation. The minimum salary of $41,000 last season would increase to $42,000 and rise by $1,000 annual increments. It also wants Grey Cup shares lifted to $20,000 (winners) and $10,000 (losers), from $16,000 and $8,000, respectively.
Another proposal includes raising the $4.2-million salary cap to $4.4 million this season and to $4.7 million by 2013.
As well, the CFLPA will agree to a drug policy provided it receives one year's notice. But since the CFL estimates the cost of drug testing would be between $350,000 and $400,000 annually, the CFLPA believes the money is better spent elsewhere.
Also, the union is calling for revenue sharing.
There has been only one work stoppage in CFL history: in June 1974, when players went on strike. Rookie recruits were flown in by the league in an effort to break the union. The veterans responded by establishing picket lines at all teams' training camps. This weakened the league's resolve and, within three weeks, a new three-year CBA was ratified.