Canadian Football League reaches tentative agreement to avoid players' strike

May 15 (UPI) -- The Canadian Football League and its Players Association have tentatively reached a new collective bargaining agreement to avoid a strike.

The agreement announced Wednesday is subject to approval by the leagues's board of governors and a ratification vote by the players. The current five-year bargaining agreement is scheduled to expire Saturday.

The CFL said Wednesday it would have no further comment until a decision is made on the new agreement.

Players will be instructed to attend the start of CFL training camps if the deal is approved. Training camps open Sunday.

CFL players have not gone on strike since 1974. A new bargaining agreement was approved prior before the regular season started that year.

The BC Lions are scheduled to host the Edmonton Eskimos on May 26, if the new agreement goes into effect.

The league's regular season begins June13, when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats host the Saskatchewan Roughriders.