As an executive member of the CFL Players Association, the proposed collective agreement reached last week between the union and the CFL has the support of Henoc Muamba.
But if that’s not enough to be ratified by most union members, the Argonauts linebacker is willing to return to the bargaining table for them.
As also a group representative and union vice president, I try to get a good idea in the room, Muamba said by phone on Monday. Over the past few days, I’ve had some interesting conversations with a lot of people.
The hardest thing on a committee is you have to get representation, but you also want to feel good for the guys in the locker room. You want to have good communication with them so that you can represent them as much as possible. If things change, you need to adapt quickly.
The two teams reached a temporary seven -year deal on Wednesday, four days after players from seven of the nine teams went on strike.
This is only the second layoff in league history and the first since 1974.
The executive recommended accepting the deal, which includes increases in the CFL’s salary cap ($ 100,000 per year starting next year) and minimum wage (from $ 65,000 to $ 75,000 in 2027). It also includes a revenue sharing formula for players and gives them the option to guarantee the last year of their contracts up to 50%.
The deal called for a return to training with protection and expanded medical coverage for retired players to five years, from three.
The deal also sees the number of Canadian starters rise from seven to eight, but that includes a nationalized Canadian – an American who has spent five years in the CFL or at least three on the same team.
In addition, three other nationalized Canadians can play up to 49% of games, on attack or defense.
It raises a lot of eyebrows. Without ratification, the AJLCF would have to return to the negotiating table in the league, which created more uncertainty.
The preparatory battles will begin on Friday, with two of those.
Muamba said players from several teams, including Toronto, have already voted on the deal.
The next few days will be important to get a good idea of the boys, whether this deal will stay or we need to change things, Muamba said. I’d be more than happy to get back to the table if it’s not ratified, but if it is, then we know the guys are happy. I’m just waiting for the result.
Muamba believes the deal is good and covers a lot of bases for the players.
I think it’s something that’s good for everyone at different stages of their careers, he said. However, what I can think of as good, until I have an intensive conversation about it with someone, that’s when they’ll let me know exactly how they feel. Communication is always the most important thing.
Some men like it, some men like some things about it that some men don’t like. If there’s one thing I learned the first time I was at the table, it was that you can’t make everyone happy, but you’re trying to do what’s best for the whole group. This is a question of the majority.
Source: Radio-Canada
