The Canadian Football League has reached a new tentative agreement with its players.
Posted at 4:49 p.m.
Updated at 5:23 p.m.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the two sides reached a tentative agreement on Thursday.
It comes two days after circuit commissioner Randy Ambrosie made a final-qualified bid.
The source confided anonymously, because the CFL and the AJLCF have not confirmed an agreement.
The pact must be ratified by the players and the board of governors of the league.
According to the source, such a vote will be held on Thursday evening.
On Monday, the players refused a deal that was recommended by the union. He also recommends giving the green light to Thursday’s agreement.
Tour exhibition games are scheduled to begin Friday night.
The Montreal Alouettes are scheduled to begin their preparatory season Saturday night in Hamilton.
The Canadian ratio will remain at 21 including seven starters in the roster for this season. In 2023, teams will be able to rotate two nationalized Canadians — Americans who have spent four years in the CFL or at least three years with the same team — up to 49% of plays, on offense or defense.
Teams can grow to three nationalized Canadians in 2024; the two clubs with the most Canadians at the end of the season will receive additional draft picks.
The CFL will also provide $1.25 million in a ratification pool for players.
The two sides were at odds over the Canadian ratio.
Last Wednesday, the CFL and CFLPA reached a tentative seven-year deal, ending a four-day strike by seven of the league’s nine teams.
At first glance, there appeared to be many positives for players, including a revenue-sharing model, the possibility of reopening the pact in five years (once the CFL signs a new broadcast contract), and the possibility , for veterans, to negotiate partially guaranteed contracts.
But the deal also called for CFL teams to increase the number of Canadian starters from seven to eight. The extra player would be a nationalized Canadian.
Three other nationalized Canadians could take part in up to 49% of the games, and the deal did not include a ratification bonus.
Despite a recommendation to accept from the union, the players voted against ratifying the agreement.
On Tuesday, Ambrosie unveiled a modified proposal that included a one million ratification pool and the abolition of the three nationalized Canadians playing in 49% of the games. However, he reduced the number of Canadian starters to seven, including one nationalized Canadian.
Ambrosie had set a deadline for accepting him at midnight Thursday. He had mentioned that if the players rejected the offer and chose to resume the strike, they would have to leave their training sites.
This was the second time Ambrosie had made a so-called final offer to the AJLCF.
On May 14, he posted a letter to fans on the CFL’s Interner website, detailing the league’s proposal to players, hours before the old collective bargaining agreement expired.
The following day, players from seven teams opted out of training and went on strike.
The Elks and Stampeders started their camps as planned because they were not in a legal strike position under provincial labor laws.
It was only the second work stoppage in league history and the first since 1974.