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The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), the labor union representing professional referees in North America and Canada, has voted to authorize a possible strike amid ongoing negotiations with the Professional Referees Organization (PRO) over a new CBA , according to multiple sources briefed on the matter.
The vote among the union membership, which was unanimous, sets the stage for it MLS potentially needs replacement referees to open its 2024 season, which begins on February 21 as Lionel Messi AND Inter Miami get Real Salt Lake.
Additionally, PSRA has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that PRO has engaged in “direct bargaining,” bypassing union leadership and communicating directly with members. of PSRA.
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The previous collective bargaining agreement between PSRA and PRO, the MLS-funded body that manages professional referees in the United States and Canada, expired on January 15. Both sides agreed to a temporary extension as that deadline approaches, allowing the referees to report for fitness testing and pre-season training camp, which ended last weekend. This extension expires on January 31, with negotiations between PSRA and PRO resuming tomorrow.
Multiple sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations characterize the two sides as “closer” than two weeks ago, but only slightly. Athletics reported earlier this month that the PSRA had sought pay scale increases of up to 90%, with the largest increases reserved for its lowest-paid members. PRO countered with an offer that featured single-digit increases.
While both sides have narrowed this gap, it does not appear that there has been significant movement. PSRA has also pushed for increased benefits and modifications to scheduling, training camps and travel arrangements.
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Negotiations between the parties have been further affected by the NLRB filing, which alleges that PRO contacted union members directly, potentially in an effort to survey them or gather information on potential demands or offers, according to a copy of the complaint which is taken from Athletics. The complaint alleges that the communications occurred “on or about August 27, 2023, September 8, 2023, and other possible dates,” and that the PRO representative who addressed PSRA employees is also a member of its bargaining committee.
“In recent negotiations, PRO representatives have stated at the table, in no uncertain terms, that their ‘client’, MLS, is not willing to pay materially more for official services,” PSRA said in a statement. “PRO has also stated, on multiple occasions, that PSRA needs to be realistic about its proposals. Meanwhile, MLS continues to celebrate its skyrocketing, viewership and record revenues by bragging and basking in the limelight.” of the recent outstanding performance of PSRA officials in the biggest competitions around the world.”
A PRO representative declined to comment when contacted by Athletics. MLS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
If MLS feels the PSRA and PRO are still far from an agreement as its season opener approaches, the league could opt to lock out its officials in advance, as it did in 2014 when it last had a referee work stoppage. in the American language. football. Such a move would allow the league to move forward with plans for replacement umpires and give it a little more time to search for those officials.
During that 2014 work stoppage, the PSRA said in a release, the error rate of key decisions (red cards, penalties, key offside decisions and more) in matches “skyrocketed”. A possible work stoppage this season could further complicate the implementation of MLS’s newest rule changes: measures against time-wasting substitutions and injuries that will make their debut in 2024. These rules were tested in MLS Next Prothe league’s developmental arm, over the past year and a half.
“We knew the levels of frustration were high because these officials have not benefited from the growth of our sport and the PSRA was forced to file an unfair labor practice charge to address alleged direct collusion by some managers of PRO,” Peter Manikowski, president and CEO. the PSRA negotiator, said in a statement. “PSRA officials are dedicated professionals focused on perfecting their craft. However, since the focus should be on negotiations towards a new collective agreement, PSRA has had to address PRO’s alleged unfair labor practices, which undermine the negotiation process.”
Notably, the first game that could be affected by a possible work stoppage features the highest-profile player in league history. The MLS regular season begins on February 21, when Lionel MessiS ‘ Inter Miami hosts The real Salt Lake. Teams are currently in pre-season training for the 2024 season and the potential work stoppage means clubs will have to find replacement referees for pre-season matches as well.
The PSRA is the union representing professional referees throughout Major League Soccer, United’s second and third tiers football Leagues and the National Women’s Soccer League. The PRO, founded in 2012 by MLS and the US Soccer Federation, oversees the professional refereeing landscape in the United States, including scheduling games, evaluating and educating officials and identifying new talent. A related organization, PRO2, oversees operations in NWSL, USL and MLS Next Pro. PSRA and PRO2 ratified a CBA of their own last year.
(Photo: Jeremy Olson/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
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