The CFLPA and the league "have set aside two days of meetings in Calgary" today and tomorrow to "begin negotiations" toward a new CBA, according to Curtis Rush of the TORONTO STAR. The league's current CBA is set to expire on May 30, and new CFLPA President Scott Flory said that the players "won't start the season until there is a new agreement in place." The "key issues in the current negotiations are salaries, pensions and career transitioning." The players "want to share in the revenue growth of the CFL," as a "lucrative television deal with TSN kicks off this season." The deal is "reportedly worth" C$43M annually, marking "a jump from the previous deal" of C$15M per year. The league also has "a new contract extension with apparel maker Reebok and corporate sponsorships remain strong." Flory said, "The players want a fair share and deserve a fair share of what’s gone on in this league because it’s been on the backs of the players that the CFL has enjoyed the success and continued growth." Rush noted Flory also "wants to see improvement in pensions and in resources to help players transition to life after football, since CFL careers are generally so short." CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon has said that the negotiations "will be kept private." Rush noted there has been "only one strike" since the union formed in '65, which was in '74 and "disrupted training camp and wiped out the exhibition season." However, a deal was reached "to save all the regular-season games" (TORONTO STAR, 4/9).
