TORONTO, 7 May 2019 – The Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) and the United Steelworkers (USW) today announced a ‘strategic alliance’ that will build a closer unity of purpose between the two associations.
In a demonstration of solidarity, USW National Director for Canada, Ken Neumann joined the CFLPA Bargaining Committee during the most recent round of collective negotiations in Toronto (May 6-8).
“We are very excited to form this alliance with the United Steelworkers. We expect this to be mutually beneficial as we share a fundamental vision for the rights of all employees in Canada. I would like to thank Canadian Director Ken Neumann, International President Leo W. Gerard and the USW for their support as we continue our pursuit of respect, fair treatment and equity for CFL players,” said Brian Ramsay, Executive Director of the CFLPA.
“We admire the work that the CFL Players’ Association has already done to try and improve working conditions for both its membership and for professional athletes in Canada. We recognize that there is a lot of work that we can do together, and so we are thrilled to formalize this strategic alliance. This framework will further our common pursuit of the rights for employees across Canada,” said Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada.
Through this new relationship, which preserves the autonomy and independence of both unions, both groups will benefit from a forum to exchange ideas, define areas of mutual interest, and develop cooperative strategies and mechanisms for the sharing of resources in the pursuit of common aims.
“The United Steelworkers commends the CFLPA on all it has accomplished thus far and we are proud to join with them in this strategic alliance moving forward. The USW’s support for athletes and their unions spans decades and we have seen the many struggles they face at every level. Our work to support both the National College Players Association and professional athletes alike has shown us just how tenuous and challenging athletes’ situations are, and how these challenges are mostly hidden from the public eye,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.
“Through this new alliance, the USW commits to provide resources and support to assist the CFLPA in both its current collective bargaining process and moving forward.”
About the CFLPA
The Canadian Football League Players’ Association (CFLPA) 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. In addition to negotiating and enforcing the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the CFLPA provides a variety of member services, builds corporate and community partnerships and works diligently for the betterment of its membership.
About USW
The United Steelworkers is the largest private-sector union in North America with more than 225,000 members in Canada. The USW is Canada’s most diverse union, representing men and women working in every sector of the economy and in every region of the country. USW members work in call centres and credit unions, mines and manufacturing plants, offices and oil refineries, restaurants and rubber plants, sawmills and steel mills, nursing homes, legal clinics, social agencies and universities.
The USW will be providing resources to the CFL Players’ Association including but not limited to, education, government relations advice, bargaining and campaign support
Jason Langvee, CFLPA Office, j.langvee@cflpa.com, 1-800-616-6865
Ken Neumann, USW Canadian National Director, 416-544-5951
Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, bgallagher@usw.ca, 416-434.2221
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