Toronto Star ePaper

Delay of game

Training camps off to false start after contract talks break down

LAURENCE HEINEN AND DAN RALPH

Linebacker Jameer Thurman and the Calgary Stampeders tried to return to some sort of normality at McMahon Stadium on Sunday under unusual circumstances.

After the CFL and its players’ association broke off negotiations on a new collective agreement Saturday, the union directed players from seven of the league’s nine teams — including the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats — to participate in a work stoppage.

Stampeders and Edmonton Elks players reported to their respective camps Sunday since they won’t be in a legal strike position until later this month, under Alberta’s labour laws.

“We shouldn’t be out here right now,” said Thurman. “The rest of the league’s on strike ... but we stand with the PA and everything. Hopefully we can get this resolved and get back to playing football.”

On Sunday night, the Montreal Alouettes announced all of its training camp practices were suspended “until further notice.”

The league’s last agreement, reached in 2019 and amended last year to allow for a 14-game campaign, expired at midnight Satur- day. The only previous CFL strike came in 1974. It was resolved before the start of that season.

As of Sunday night, it was unclear when talks might resume. According to Derek Wiggan, Calgary’s player rep, he and his teammates have faith a deal will get done before the Stamps would be in a legal position to join the strike in a few days.

“We’ll go through the process, and then on Wednesday we’ll see what happens,” said the defensive lineman. “I’m really hopeful.”

Head coach Dave Dickenson was also optimistic a deal will get done. He said he and his staff can go about preparing Calgary for its first preseason game May 28 when the Stampeders are slated to host the B.C. Lions.

“Everybody has that extra buzz right now,” Dickenson said. “We’ve been all looking forward to get 2022 started.”

Shortly after talks broke down Saturday, CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie went public with the league’s latest offer. But in a memo to its membership, the CFLPA said Sunday the league’s proposal was summarily rejected by both Alberta teams.

“After having commissioner Ambrosie outline the CFL’s proposal in a letter to our membership (Saturday), we conducted our Alberta strike (Sunday morning). Ninetynine per cent of our members voted to strike the CFL, which can only be interpreted as a 99 per cent rejection of the CFL’s offer. We reiterate our offer to the CFL to return to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith.”

And the CFLPA said if the league doesn’t resume negotiations soon, it will have a full-blown strike to deal with.

“Our Alberta members will be off the job later this week and on strike with the rest of the CFLPA members if the CFL does not return to the bargaining table and we reach a fair agreement,” the memo said.

Despite his insistence that training camp shouldn’t have started amid the labour strife, Thurman decided to make the most of a bad situation.

“It’s just good to be back out here going over the plays and learning the system again,” said Thurman, who’s expected to be one of the leaders on defence again this season after serving as a team captain last year. “I’ve always had to step up since I’ve been here.

“I’ve always known that a lot of people consider me a leader on this defence, so it’s the same thing. Nothing’s changed. I still expect to perform at a high standard and bring guys along with me.”

SPORTS

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2022-05-16T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-16T07:00:00.0000000Z

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