Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Union have yet to reach an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the wheels are already in motion for a work stoppage.
The Players Union is preparing its members for a strike on Monday if a new CBA cannot be agreed to in the current negotiations, which are being overseen by a federal mediator. Sources confirmed the strike preparations to SBI on Wednesday. A Monday strike would come four days before the 2010 MLS season is supposed to kick off in Seattle with the Sounders facing expansion side Philadelphia Union.
If this scenario sounds familiar, it is because it is the same scenario I laid out in a Fox Soccer column last month.
There is still hope of avoiding a strike as MLS and the Players Union are currently in Washington D.C. negotiating. If no deal is reached before Monday, a strike will take place, and as I stated in today's Fox Soccer column, a strike would be devastating to a league in danger of losing precious momentum.
Stay tuned for any MLS labor battle news as it becomes available.
It’s called hyperbole. Obviously the players are literally slaves.
I can sympathize with the players wanting more, but only to an extent. The league is by no means fully stable yet and I feel they are risking too much at the expense of the fans for moderate improvements in their profession. What seals the deal for me are facts like this that I just read in another SBI article:
“Lew Wolff, the Earthquakes owner, will provide $60 million to help finance the project…”
The guy is laying down 60 f’ing million bucks! Sure, he is doing it as a long term business investment, but it’s a long term investment that will benefit all of us. If MLS gets big then everyone wins, the owners, the fans, and definitely the players. It’s just that it won’t be THESE players as most of them will be out of the game by then. So it sucks to be them, but don’t risk long term security of the sport and future players by trying to get to force a change too early.
Is it fair NHL Players make 15X More than MLS Average?
Is it fair NHL Salary Cap $57 Million vs MLS $2.3 Million?
Is it fair NHL Salary Cap 25X Higher than MLS Cap?
AVERAGE PLAYER SALARIES
NBA: $4,900,000
MLB: $2,866,544
NHL: $1,460,000 (used to be $1,830,000)
NFL: $1,250,000
EPL: $1,162,720
MLS*: $90,000????
AFL: $85,000
WNBA: $55,000
LEAGUE SALARY CAPS:
MLB No Cap – Highest Team Payroll- Yankees $208 Million
NFL No Cap – Highest Team Payroll- Raiders $152 Million
NBA $60 Million
NHL $57 Million
MLS $2.3 Million
COMMISSIONER SALARIES
Bud Selig MLB $14.5 million
Roger Goodell NFL $10.3 million
Gary Bettman NHL $5.9 million
Don Garber MLS $3 Million
NFL national TV package rights: $3.085 Billion/year
MLB national TV Package: $416m/year
NBA national TV package: $400m/year
NHL US National TV package: $75m/year
MLS national TV package: $1.5m/year.
Garber is set to get a 50% raise to $3 Million – about half the salary of the NHL commissioner. Are MLS players less than 1/10th as good as EPL , NHL, NFL , players? Also is Beckhams $250 Million anywhere close to $80K ? Is MLS 1/3rd as popular as the NFL ? Then why is Garber getting paid 1/3rd of what the NFL Commission got paid? Why is Garber being paid half of the NHL commissioner, but MLS players paid less than 1/15th of NHL players? NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman makes 4X more than an average NHL player, Garber makes over 30X what an average MLS player makes .
I know the owners would be happy with the previous CBA and it’s the players who are making demands. That is enough for me to support the owners.
Um, so if teams had been losing some money, therefore they wouldn’t mind losing a lot more money than they had been losing? Not following your logic here.
They’d actually have to pay back a lot of money they’d been given.
DO I GET A REFUND IF THERES A STRIKE BECAUSE I BOUGHT TICKET FOR THE RED BULLS FIRE SEASON OPENER???
You answered your own question. FIFA.
No most people don’t belong to unions, which sucks for them, because union gigs typically provide much better working conditions than non-union ones. Fortunately for the players, they do have a union negotiating on their behalf. They might even be able to get huge concessions like (gasp!) guaranteed contracts, something to which the players feel justifiably entitled.
I realize that many of you feel that the MLS’ single entity structure is what has allowed the league to be (somewhat) successful, and that the union’s demands threaten that structure. At the same time though, the single entity structure is also holding the league back by preventing it from developing organically and by preventing players to be fairly compensated. It also prevents so called Euro-snobs from taking the league seriously. I don’t mean to look the AEG gift-horse in the mouth, but it’s time for the training wheels to come off.
Most teams in the league are losing money by operating anyway.
How can they? With money? MLS had a great recruiting year this year.
Rory you are correct ‘Indentured Servitude’ is more appropriate. I debated this and went the wrong way.
Whoami expand your universe please, slavery is not exclusive to “(african americans)” as you suggested.
As and end, many arguments for MLS exclusive rights seem to defend the single entity contract by default (they can go outside MLS for employment). Perhaps the players should take this to court, not arbitration.
Or we could ALL tell the players we’ll quit watching if they don’t drop their petty demands. The US constitution provides them their basic rights.
And my comment cut off, sorry. If they can find 4 more maybe we can get a cool Nike Scorpion 3v3 league thing happening 🙂
There were only two of them at last vote.
I was making a reply in jest about your statement that free agency doesn’t cause teams to spend more than they have on contracts, dumb management causes them to do that. I was actually agreeing with you.
my 2nd example is just an aside (though there have been people who’ve moved without their original manager’s approval, even if you don’t believe it – they could get approval from a higher manager, aka the league). Also, approval is not the same as compensation.
The players are not asking to be able to move when they’re under contract, they’re asking to be able to move after their contracts have expired, and they no longer have a job. Are you saying that a new manager would have to give something to the employee’s previous manager, even if the previous manager no longer wants that employee, before hiring said employee?
As I said, preposterous.
I heard the scab Timbers are gonna cross picket lines and play for Shicago.. WTF!?
Really, non-compete agreements? You’ve never seen people get around those without much difficulty? And what % of jobs require people to sign such things?
But even if we just accept that non-compete agreements are always completely binding, the fact is, saying that “the concept of free agency only exists in sports” is completely untrue. And as I pointed out, it’s even possible to move within a company even while you’re working, never mind being able to move when you no longer have a job/contract, which is what sports free agency is, and what the players are asking for.
But that’s also a side argument. The crux of it is, people say that free agency could bankrupt the league somehow. I’m still waiting for someone to explain how, in a league with a hard cap, free agency could cause teams to spend themselves to death? If someone could explain that, then I’d see why people would be against it.
But what about that time Ricky Williams was under contract with the Miami Dolphins and then went to go play football in Canada. I mean essentially he was on a one man strike by quitting? Wouldn’t any MLS player that could get picked up by another league be in the same situation? or does FIFA have something to say about this?
Rory, an NFL plyaer who gets hurt doesn’t usually get all of the money on their deal unless the player, the team or agent have purchased additional insurance.
As far as the NBA player still getting paid, for that sort of act, I am not familiar with any player being paid his salary. Which case were you referring to or was it supposed to be obvious that you were exxagerating?
The union tries to get the fine and suspension, reduced in order to get some of the money back but I can’t think of one NBA situation like described.
Would you please elaborate. Thanks.
Feels like i just walked in on my girlfriend and best friend…
You might want to adjust your sarcasm meter.
The players have already been offered a higher cap and a higher minimum. There are public quotes from several players saying these issues aren’t their concerns. Foose has them convinced they need to (and can) break MLS single entity. Wrong on both counts, and going to pay for it severely.
No its the player’s union that is greedy. The league isn’t ready to give up their single entity and players aren’t willing to compromise.
Players go on strike and they’re slaves until their contracts let up, the league files bankruptcy or the owners let them go. Owners aren’t going to let some of them go as punishment, the higher ups (Donovans, etc) will be sold but if you’re making $25k, I say the owners go “let them rot.”
Thanks a lot.
But when a guy who was in MLS is out of contract (it expired) and goes to say, Scandavia then when he comes back, the MLS club that he left, still owns his rights in some cases. At least that is the way that it seems to be explained in a lot of cases…
They don’t have exclusive work rights. Player can go play in hundreds of other leagues.
Nope, I got what I paid for. RSL won the MLS Cup. I got what I wanted.
I didn’t write how many season tickets I purchase; actually quite a few and they are on the front row. I’d say it was good value.
I agree. It also gives the illusion that the players are absolving themselves of any “wrong doing”. By striking a few days before the season starts, not only are they applying a lot of pressure on the owners, the players can essentially saying, “Yeah we did strike, but we did it before the season started and you guys are the ones that let it continue into the season.” It’s actually a pretty smart move.
If they chose to strike at the stroke of midnight when the season is about to start, from a PR perspective, it makes the players look bad.
This issue affects very, very few players.
Additionally, free agency doesn’t necessarily solve it. There is a story on the front page of Yahoo about NFL veterans having trouble being picked up even as free agents.
Seriously?, I’m not really sure what comment of mine you were responding to.
Maybe you can help me understand how you got to that conclusion.
Seems like we are saying the same thing if you look at my comments about owners in other leagues (and even the old NASL) who spent more than revenue streams could support.
Other leagues have salary caps and luxury taxes because many owners don’t trust themselves to utilize restraint and avoid arms races. That is why I gave the NHL example with my local Washington Capitals and Jaroromir Jagr…
Regular people also have their companies outsource their jobs to foreign countries. MLS’ US players are currently protected from this by the foreign player limit.
Professional atheletes do not have free agency across the board. See MLB players their first six years. See NHL draft picks.
Professional athletes are not necessarily entitled to anything at all. See NASL. See Arena Football. See Indoor Soccer. See LA Sol.
Players can sign with tens of thousands of teams around the world in free competition. Players can sign with non-MLS teams in the United States. They choose to sign with MLS, and MLS chooses to retain the single entity structure that has kept it alive the last fifteen years.
Seriosly?
No person in any company can move freely. All moves within a company require some sort of managerial approval.
that is not free agency.
Hats off to the player’s union. They will show the league who’s boss. They will destroy this league if necessary. Let’s see the “greedy” and “evil” owners find another business adventure where they can invest hundreds of millions of dollars for a huge loss. I’m sure they will realize that opportunities like MLS are just not that easy to come by. At least the players will finally get what they deserve. They can play in the U.S.L. and the U.S. national team can go back to being eliminated from the world cup by the likes of El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago. That’s showing them.
Hmmm, that seems really high for season tickets. Where do you live? In Seattle, my wife and I paid about $600 for our season tickets.
USL? NASL?
Fortunately RSL has started auditioning replacement players, as seen in this video:
http://keepinitrealsoccer.com/2010/03/video-major-league-soccers/
I’d also note that in the industry I’m in, we have non-competing contracts that stipulate we won’t work for another company within our industry without them giving the OK – so in effect we don’t have free agencies. In MLS terms I’d have to quite soccer and play baseball…..
Now I’m in favor of free trade but Dooshbag isn’t being quite the dooshbag with his analogy.
Don’t think we’ll see a strong league for years if this strike goes through. Naysayers will point to 15 years without making money, would-be investors will point to the problems of starting a league in today’s climate or reinvesting in a smaller league.
I just can’t see MLS surviving this and it really p*sses me off that it’s taken this long to start talking. After the last contract was signed, they should of started organizing the next one. Poor planning and even worse execution by everyone.
I’m not going to get any work one today.
Why drop the developmental tag, if I guy is not worth 50K he’s not worth it, instead of signing developmentals they should have u21 contracts that don’t count towards the senior roster. The swap with GA’s and Guaranting Senior contracts goes against another revenue stream which is transfers, You want more GA’s not less, these guys develop into tradeable assets, they should let the players have the 10% but they shouldn’t cave on transfer fees if the guatemalan league can sell players for more money then MLS should be able to as well.
I don’t think your drops for free agency solve those problems because at the end of their contracts the players can leave anyways, the free agency is for guys who want to stay. They don’t need a trade clause, when most likely if a team wants a player a trade is made anyways. And they already have a trade deadline. I like your idea for the dp, I agree they should not count toowards the cap at all, that would really bump up salaries without really changing anything.
I predict this game of brinkmanship goes on til last minute, when players and owners both cave to reach a settlement about 2am Sunday night/Monday am.
Key player wins: higher cap, higher minimum
Key owner win: single entity model survives – at least til next CBA
Come on MLS…don’t do this. I know there is no guarantee of success this year but I have to imagine this could be a turning point for the league if it plays, and plays well.
Not so much from an attendance standpoint, I’m a firm believer that an event like the WC isn’t going to drastically change the attendance figures right away (like some were hoping for the NHL post-Olympics). But it could be a step in the right direction for a better TV deal, which would be a driver of further growth. TV exposure is one of the most important factors for sports in this country, look at the NHL’s problems since they lost any meaningful coverage.
I like the thinking JM…
1) I’d start lower at $40,000 base salary…then every year played add (percentage guaranteed-5-10%???) for the player.
2) Have a limited free agency…players who’ve been in the league for 7 plus years get free agency at then end of the contract. Also, any player that played less than 40% of their available games can go free agent. HOWEVER no player can negotiate a contract…REASONING…once negotiations of players contracts starts the players wages will start to drastically raise. THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT. Unfortunately MLS cannot have this.
3) GET CREATIVE–pay bonuses (this can be negotiated by player.) Every goal scored the player gets $3-5,000…depending on years and who he is. Assists get $2-4000. Blank sheet the Goalie get’s $5000 and the D get’s $2000. THE BIG ISSUE that no one is talking about is GETTING MORE FANS IN SEATS. This will help in those lull games where a team is already in position for the playoffs and they play lethargic. THIS also could help draw some big name guys who would be able to dominate and make some cash.
4) Have teams adopt other cities and play 3-5 games there. For example the Crew play some games in Nashville or Atlanta.
5) Each team can have 3-5 players that have the right to negotiate a contract (A DP). A team would have a total of $1 million for these players only plus bonus.
It’s not about this just cause that the players are fighting for, it is about the TIMING of their fight. This time when we are now just now gaining momentum with stadium deals and maturing fan bases is not the right time. What’s to say a company like AEG who lose money every year will just say F*&$ it, we are done.
Yes, I do. Most of the American players have college degrees. Check out the salaries; you’d be surprised at how many players make less than 40k a year (and some much less), even after a few years.
One of the guys from my club team played in MLS for a few years and left to be a high school teacher because of the pay and security, nevermind he didn’t have to live in an expensive metro area where the teams are. I don’t know if he would have supported it but back then they just didn’t have the leverage to strike.
I just don’t get what the players long term strategy is other than to hope the owners break ?
The owners have another long term strategy. Hire new players if too much time elapses. Get second tier US players, some drop off in quality or else they would have been first tier before, get some foreign players, then get some name players…
Does Henry come here to the new MLS ?
IF he does, the players are screwed. Because all the others will be easily gotten.
Like I’ve said before, it’s going to be funny to watch these guys strike only to come crawling back over the picket line within a few days. However, the damage will already have been done because I, along with many others, will not be attending a single MLS game this season.
Don’t forget that a mediator has no ability to force a conclussion. Now if only a federal arbitrator was sent in we could get this stuff taken care of. Mediators are like having your Father step in to moderate your fight with your brother: you know it doesn’t matter because he doesn’t have the authority to back anything up, for that you have to turn to your Mother.
(However, whenever federal arbitrators are involved I cringe. Remember when the Jets and Redskins got into it over a contract offer to Chad Morton? The NFL told the Jets not to worry, they would win anyway. They lost the case, and the player, to the Redskins. Oh and by the way, the Arbitrator was a Redskins season tickets holder!).
Seattle Times is all over it.
Live Blog with Keller yesterday. Stories.
I think it is getting picked up elsewhere.
The question is, is any publicity good ?
NFL Players get paid per game, the only thing they are guaranteed are their signing bonuses. NBA well hey thats why they lost 400 million this past fiscal year.
And as far as the teachers isn’t that exactly whats wrong with the education system? The Unions have become to big to fail.