Four CFL teams formally canceled the start of training camp workouts Sunday after the league and its players union were unable to reach a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement.
The Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts formally cancelled practices Sunday, which was scheduled to be the opening day of training camp for CFL teams. More are expected to follow suit.
Players on seven of the league’s nine teams were in a legal strike position at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday.
Both the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Elks opened camp as scheduled Sunday. Their players won’t be in a legal strike position until later this week, as per Alberta’s labor laws.
Please note that the practices are cancelled until further notice due to the ongoing strike. We will obviously keep you informed of the evolution of the situation and are hoping a return to the field as soon as possible! Thank you for your understanding. #montreals
— Alouettes de Montréal (@MTLAlouettes) May 16, 2022
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats cancelled a second day of training-camp practices Monday as the CFL players’ strike entered its second day.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats practices have been postponed until further notice.
🗞: https://t.co/DH39oGSZnw#Ticats | #CFL pic.twitter.com/u3OXpG4V5Q
— Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) May 16, 2022
The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced on Sunday their practice would also be cancelled and said an announcement would be made about future practices.
Please note that until further notice Roughrider practices are cancelled. A new schedule will be issued when practice resumes.
🗞 : https://t.co/8Abh1P3Vg0 pic.twitter.com/XUWQzC95Gw
— Saskatchewan Roughriders (@sskroughriders) May 16, 2022
The CFL and CFL Players’ Association broke off negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement Saturday. The last agreement, reached in 2019 and amended last year to allow the league to stage a 14-game campaign, expired at midnight Saturday.
The union directed players from seven of the CFL’s nine teams to participate in a work stoppage beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET.
The lone previous CFL strike came in 1974. The labor situation was resolved before the start of the season that year.
There’ve been no new talks scheduled for the league and CFLPA.
The CFL exhibition season is currently scheduled to begin May 23 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers visiting the Saskatchewan Roughriders.