Brian Ramsay
Edmonton Eskimos | |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Brian Ramsay (born February 24, 1980) is a former
Career
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CFLPA
As CFLPA Executive Director, Ramsay has overseen a transition throughout the Association, including leading the players through collective bargaining in 2019, the global pandemic COVID19 during 2020/21 and again through bargaining the 2022 collective agreement. Mandated by the membership upon being hired, Ramsay developed strategic planning that focused on the Associations' communications, internal operating structures and processes that benefit the CFLPA membership both on and off the field.
From an operations standpoint, Ramsay restructured the Association by engaging Art Vertlieb
2019 Collective Bargaining
During the 2019 collective bargaining, directives reflected steadfast confidence from the membership in a strong strike mandate and just as impressive support from players upon ratifying the contract. Health and safety initiatives have been a focal point of Ramsay in his tenure to date. The tripling of rehabilitation coverage for injuries sustained on-field was crucial in the 2019 negotiations with the CFL. The talks saw a focus on player rehabilitation and safety with additions to equipment standards, an expanded Health and Safety Committee, and restrictions for training camps and in-season practice schedules.
2022 Collective Bargaining
After navigating amendments to the CFL players' agreement for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Ramsay again chaired the bargaining committee that negotiated a new seven-year collective agreement in May 2022. After talks broke down upon the expiry of the existing contract on May 14, 2022, Ramsay helped lead the CFLPA through its first work stoppage in 48 years. The resolve of the membership proved to be impactful as historical gains were seen, including increased player safety and rehabilitation, revenue sharing, and forms of guaranteed contracts. Also of note was the development of a mental health and substance abuse program, multiple increases to the minimum player salary, and a change that see's the agreement expiring one month before the 2028 training camp period.
Workers' Compensation
Ramsay has been a strong advocate for player health and safety and legislative changes to be made provincially to workers' compensation regulations across Canada. In 2016, under Ramsay's leadership, a coalition was formed with professional sports associations (NHLPA, PHPA, NLLPA, among others) across Canada to address these inequalities. In the spring of 2022, WorkSafeBC has now formally appointed this initiative to the 2022-2024 workplan to review the exclusion of professional athletes in Canada.
CFLPA Academy
Understanding the transition many athletes face during the transition from sport, in August 2016, under Ramsay's leadership, the Association created the CFLPA Academy as a resource for members to prepare for life outside of football. The program now boasts over 65% enrollment by active members within the union and over 1800 individual historical users. Pillars of the Academy include; education (
CFL
Drafted in the fifth round of the
KPMG
Ramsay articled and worked for the big four accounting firm KPMG for just under a decade as an auditor focusing on not-for-profit and government entities.
Education
Ramsay received his B.A from the University of New Mexico and obtained his Masters of Business Administration from Royal Roads University.
References
- ^ Brian Ramsay Bio. Golobos.com. Accessed July 28, 2012.
External links
- CFL Players' Association Announces New Executive Team. Retrieved January 12, 2017
- CFL Players' Association Announces New Executive Team. Retrieved March 6, 2018
- CFL Players' Association Announces New Executive Team. Retrieved March 1, 2020
- CFL Players' Association Announces New Executive Team. Retrieved March 8, 2022
- Barnes, D (2022, May 12) Still no deal after full day of talks between Canadian Football and players. Retrieved May 15, 2022, from https://torontosun.com/sports/still-no-deal-after-full-day-of-talks-between-canadian-football-league-and-players
- Ralph, D (2022, May 10) CFL to table new contract offer to players association, sources say. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from https://globalnews.ca/news/8824436/cfl-to-table-new-contract-offer-players-association-on-wednesday/
- Larson, S. (2018, December 14). Football players association pushes province to allow access to workers' compensation for athletes | CBC News. Retrieved January 16, 2019, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/football-players-workers-compensation-1.4945469
- Woods, J. (2018, March 21). CFLPA files grievance against CFL over player safety and rehabilitation. Retrieved May 18, 2018, from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/cflpa-files-grievance-against-cfl-over-player-safety-and-rehabilitation/article38313590/
- Press, T. (2020, May 21). Brian Ramsay says CFLPA's focus is exhausting all options for safe 2020 CFL campaign. Retrieved June 8, 2020, from https://www.tsn.ca/ramsay-says-cflpa-s-focus-is-exhausting-all-options-for-safe-2020-cfl-campaign-1.1477983
- Ralph, D. (2020, May 12). COVID-19 pandemic creating twice as many challenges for some CFL players | CBC Sports. Retrieved July 4, 2020, from https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-coronavirus-players-unemployed-cflpa-brian-ramsay-1.5566320