Published on June 29, 2010 10:31 PM by dbo.
The CFL and CFLPA announced the ratification of a new four-year collective bargaining agreement today. The parties were more forthcoming with the details of the agreement, releasing summaries of key changes over the previous agreement.
Of course, the most talked about change is the performance enhancing drug testing program. Testing is set to start in 2011 after an education program begins in 2010. The program appears to be very comprehensive, fair and focused on performance enhancing drugs, perhaps the strictest in all major league sports.
Other details on the CBA were also released, including increases to the salary cap, minimum player salaries and pension payments over the life of the agreement, the introduction of a per-team salary floor, and the phasing out of the NFL option year window.
There were also a number of procedural and regulation changes in areas such as off-season workouts, definition of a non-import, injured waivers, arbitration, player benefits, and additional non-import training camp spots.
However, some players feel the agreement didn’t go far enough. (Why do I keep hearing “Dental plan. Lisa needs braces. Dental plan. Lisa needs braces.”?)
An interesting exclusion from the agreement, still to be negotiated according to the conditional owners in Ottawa, is expansion draft provisions. With Ottawa set to return in 2013, the last year of the deal, it will be interesting to see whether the CFLPA has any input on the expansion draft process.
I will make an effort to update things around here at CFLdb with what new information there is. Some things will have to wait until I can get my hands on official documents.
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