Music: {allcanada} SOURCE: CFL PLAYERS VOTING HEAVILY IN FAVOUR OF STRIKE

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

{allcanada} SOURCE: CFL PLAYERS VOTING HEAVILY IN FAVOUR OF STRIKE

The Godfather Part II: The Coppola Restoration

With CBA talks at a near standstill, a source has told TSN Football Insider Dave Naylor that players from seven of the nine CFL teams have taken votes with 98 per cent of them in favour of a strike.

The news comes several hours after CFL commissioner Mark Cohon announced that the league would extend the ratification bonus to Friday if the union is prepared to allow its members to vote on the league's most recent proposal.

On Monday night, the Players' Association had a four-year offer rejected by the league.

The collective bargaining agreement between the league and the CFL Players' Association expired last Thursday at midnight. The players decided to attend training camps on Sunday while negotiations between the two sides continued.

"We have made our best offer and continue to believe the CFLPA should allow its members to vote on our offer," said Cohon in a statement. "The most recent CFLPA proposal, which was presented to us yesterday through the mediator, would not form the basis of a settlement as it was unrealistic.

Cohon explained why the league's offer is fair for the players.

"Our offer increases the average player salary by 16 per cent in 2014, to more than $96,000 per player, and significantly reduces the number of padded practices throughout the season," he continued.

"Our proposal also includes ratification bonuses of $5,000 for veteran players and $1,500 for rookies. We are confident that our offer is fair to the players and would allow us to continue to build our league while not jeopardizing the positive momentum we have collectively achieved over the last several years."

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark