‘I don’t think there really is trust:’ Lauther discusses CFL labour talks

If trust is a major factor in labour negotiations, the talks between the CFL and CFL Players’ Association may be in trouble.

“I don’t think there really is trust,” kicker Brett Lauther, one of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ player reps, told The Green Zone on Tuesday.

“I was in the room in 2014 when they pay the veteran guys a ratification bonus and then two days later, when a deal gets done, (league officials say) ‘Oh, hey, we got a $50-million TSN deal that the players don’t get.’ And then talking publicly lately about how interest-based bargaining and everything is going fine until monetary comes up. Then even the misinformation that was put out on the weekend was just a (negotiating) tactic on their side.

“It’s tough to trust anymore what’s going on. I just hope that we can finally sit down and really hash it out and get something done so that in a couple of weeks, we can not be worried or thinking about this anymore.”

The CFL and the players’ union didn’t get a new collective bargaining agreement signed before Saturday night’s deadline, so the players on seven teams went on strike Sunday instead of opening training camp.

On Saturday, the CFL issued a letter from commissioner Randy Ambrosie to fans and players laying out the terms of the league’s latest offer. On Tuesday, Lauther said the letter was “a sign of weakness and nothing’s true.”

He disputed the CFL’s claim of $18.9 million in salary increases over the term of the deal — Lauther said it was more like $5.9 million — and noted the union still has issues with the revenue-sharing model, the number of padded practices and the ratio proposals put forward by the league.

“I feel like whenever they want to come back to the table and eventually hash something out, we’ve been prepared (to talk) since January,” Lauther said. “We were prepared (to play a pre-season game) early next week.

“We’re all just at their mercy and their terms right now. We want to play ball, but we’re just hoping it comes to an end soon.”

Speaking late Tuesday afternoon, Lauther said he had heard the union was preparing to update the player reps in the evening. That could mean a glimmer of hope — or it could mean nothing.

Reports have said the players have the support of most of the league’s fans, but Lauther said the players aren’t looking for support during a work stoppage that affects everyone involved with the CFL. The important thing is that the players support the union’s actions.

“I don’t think it’s like a win for anyone that (the fans) are on one side or the other,” he said. “We do appreciate it 100 per cent, but I think a lot of the misinformation that’s out there, people are kind of seeing through it … I’m just proud of the players for stepping up and being in the position we are in and sticking together.

“We had another vote (Monday) from the proposal last week and the latest stuff and we went to 100 per cent (in support of the union) out here. So it’s not just me. I’m really just a facilitator of information here for the guys and keeping them informed. Every guy’s basically in the same boat.”

Lauther said the players are committed to staying out as long as they can despite the financial losses they’ll suffer without game cheques. The CFLPA is prepared, too.

“We’re finally in a great place from a players’ association where if it does continue, we can afford to fly everyone home,” he said. “It’s different than it used to be.

“We didn’t just come here (to camps) this time to be stranded. We have that ability. It’s going to cost the league a lot more to bring players back.”

The Roughriders were to play host to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a pre-season game Monday, but that game could be scrapped if the strike continues. The decision to nix that contest could come as early as Wednesday.

In the meantime, the Roughriders have been holding player-led workouts in Saskatoon and working out at a local gym to keep themselves ready.

“Being on the field with the guys the last few days and setting up another gym through some local guys, we’re ready to go,” Lauther said. “We know what has to happen this year here (with the Grey Cup being played in Regina). Nothing needs to be talked about from that standpoint.”