Music: {allcanada} SOURCE: CFL, CFLPA RATIFY NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT

Monday, June 28, 2010

{allcanada} SOURCE: CFL, CFLPA RATIFY NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT

TORONTO -- There is labour peace in the CFL.

The CFL and CFL Players' Association will hold a news conference Tuesday regarding a new collective bargaining agreement. A league source requesting anonymity said Monday night the two sides will announce the new deal has been ratified, ensuring the 2010 season will start on time.

The regular season kicks off Thursday with two games. The Saskatchewan Roughriders host the Montreal Alouettes in a Grey Cup rematch while the Toronto Argonauts visit the Calgary Stampeders.

The two sides reached a tentative deal last month but it required ratification from both the players and the league's board of governors to become official. The old collective bargaining agreement expired prior to the start of training camp.

Details of the new deal weren't immediately known but the CFL has said it does contain a drug-testing policy. However, both the league and players union vowed not to comment specifically about the agreement until the completion of the ratification process.