Steelworkers’ Union Supports Canadian Football League Players’ Association, Denounces League’s Behaviour

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The United Steelworkers union (USW) strongly supports members of the Canadian Football League Players’ Association who have been forced into a labour dispute as they seek a fair collective agreement with the CFL.

“The United Steelworkers union pledges any and all support for the CFL Players’ Association to win this strike. We applaud their courage and determination to give players a voice and respect for the work that they do,” said USW National Director Marty Warren.

“Our union denounces the actions of the CFL, which opted to provoke a labour dispute and attempt to undermine the players’ association, rather than to continue with good-faith negotiations, which the players have sought all along,” Warren said.

“The United Steelworkers urges the CFL to return to the bargaining table and to commit to negotiating in good faith with its most-important asset – its players, who make Canadian football the great sport that is loved and supported by fans across the country,” he added.

The CFLPA and the USW formed a "strategic alliance" in 2019 to build a closer unity of purpose between the two organizations. Through this alliance, the USW has committed to providing assistance and resources to the CFLPA including education, government relations advice, bargaining and campaign support.

About the USW:

The United Steelworkers represents 225,000 members across Canada in nearly every sector of the economy. Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW, recognizing the union for its strong record in health and safety, workers’ rights, winning good collective agreements and more.

About the CFLPA:

The Canadian Football League Players’ Association is the union for professional football players in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Since 1965, the Association has worked to establish fair and reasonable working conditions while protecting the rights of all CFL players.