Labor Disputes and Lock-Outs

Following up on our disscussion at the bar, here is some information on the ongoing labor negotiation between the MLS Players Union and the MLS Owners.

Gleened from the soccer blogosphere:
"According to two veteran members of the MLS players union, Major League Soccer is playing hardball with the union and hasn't come close to considering some of the demands being made by the players. Guaranteed contracts, allowing teams to negotiate contacts rather than the league office, and free agency are issues the players union appear ready to fight for, but are three issues MLS is apparently not ready to budge on."

As we discussed, players want the right to free agency with other MLS teams, if their contract lapses. Right now, that is not the case. Players like Rolfe and Segares who are no longer under contract can transfer for $0 to other leagues, but they are not free to negotiate with other teams inside the MLS. This, of course, is anathama to the league right now. The last thing they want to see is a bidding war for any player.

Unfortunately, I agree with this, as unfair as it may seem (or be). I've watched one professional soccer league die in my lifetime - I don't want to watch a second.

The players would also like a boost in the salary cap. Somthing can be negotiated here, I would hope. Especially given the cartel nature of the league. Move some money from market to market and make this happen.

Finally, the players would like guaranteed contracts. I admit I'm not an expert at this.

Here's a statement from Commissioner Garber dated yesterday:

We are working hard, collectively, both the MLSPU and the league, to try to reach an agreement that’s going to be good for both players and management. We are working very hard to do that. We are meeting regularly…we met several times last week and we’re meeting again next week. But we are going to get to a point where both players and management are going to have to make some tough decisions.

We’ve been doing very well over the last ten years making this league very stable. We need to ensure we have the right kind of deal to continue to develop the game the way we have and clearly the players are going to have to try to decide what kind of deal they will accept to get the type of things they are looking for.

At the end of the day, this is still a very young sport. For 50 years, soccer has failed in this country. And here we are, about to have 18 teams, nearly 10 soccer stadiums, all because we’ve had a system that albeit different, is one that allows us to have this ability to continue to operate and grow for another day.
Don Garber

The international organization, FIFPRO came out condeming the practices of the MLS and in support of the players. However, it's not clear if the players solicited this intervention or not. Right now, it seems the union is fractured with power players like Keller and Twellman talking strike and the vast majority of lesser paid players hoping for a negotiated deal.

January 31st is right around the corner...