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MLS Players’ Association Executive Director Bob Foose took issue with MLS Commissioner Don Garber’s assertions about ongoing negotiations for a new collective agreement, questioning whether the decision to reopen negotiations CBA was more of a “financial opportunity” than a “financial necessity”.
The MLSPA chief added that the players were not planning to strike if a new deal was not reached.
The two sides completed negotiations on a CBA last February, but it was not ratified and when the COVID-19 pandemic struck and the league was shut down last March, the MLS chose to renegotiate .
– MLS and 2021: what is force majeure means for CBA
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An agreement was reached last June, but contained a force majeure clause that says in the event of an economic disaster like that caused by a pandemic, both parties could choose to renegotiate the CBA. If a new agreement is not reached within 30 days, then either party could cancel the existing agreement.
With the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine slower than expected, MLS is likely to start the season without fans in the stands. Given its reliance on game-day income, MLS feared they would see losses in 2021 similar to those they suffered in 2020, which the league pegged at $ 1 billion.
A source with knowledge of the situation added that $ 725 million of the $ 1 billion in losses was due to the pandemic. For this reason, MLS invoked the clause force majeure on December 29 and submitted an ACB proposal to the MLSPA on January 4.
Yesterday, Garber held a Zoom call with reporters saying there had to be “urgency” in the negotiations given that there were only 20 days left in the 30-day window. Garber also argued that the current offer MLS made to MLSPA would leave 2021 salaries intact and attempt to claw back dollars by extending the terms of the agreement by two years and freezing salary budget increases between 2021. and 2022.
In total, MLS hopes to save an additional $ 100 million to $ 110 million over the life of the ABC. This is in addition to what the MLSPA said was $ 150 million in concessions from the previous deal.
Foose countered Garber on several fronts. First, he said that it was not necessary for the talks to be completed within 30 days, and that there was nothing to prevent the two sides from continuing negotiations after this window. Even if MLS chooses to cancel the CBA, the terms of the old agreement would remain in effect until new terms are agreed, though there is the threat of a lockout.
“We are certainly not looking to continue these talks indefinitely,” Foose said. “ At the same time, it is essential that we understand as much as possible what 2021 will look like, in terms of being able to have fans in the stadiums and there is still some way to go to gain this knowledge. this information. “
The league was quick to push back against the idea that the 30-day window isn’t a tough deadline.
“Based on their statements today, we are concerned that the MLSPA does not have the urgency to meet and finalize an agreement within the 30-day deadline provided in our collective agreement with the players, ”said MLS President and Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott.
“The timing for this negotiation period was specifically agreed between the league and the players in June. And we made a simple and thoughtful proposal in good faith to facilitate and finalize a deal quickly and before the end of the negotiation period. 30 days. “
As to when the MLSPA might offer a counter-offer, Foose said the MLSPA’s analysis is ongoing.
“Once our analysis is complete and the input we need from player leadership, we will determine how we are going to respond to the offer,” he said.
Foose also said it was “completely dishonest” and “just wrong” to say that the MLS proposal would have no impact on player salaries for 2021 since the last CBA negotiated last June saw players accept. conditions that required them to do so. only that. This included a freeze on salary budget increases from 2020 to 2021, thus slowing the rate of growth with respect to future seasons.
“While the league is made to say that there is no pay cut in 2021, the reality is that concessions have already been made every year of the renegotiation of the CBA to take into account the financial impacts of the virus, ”he said. “And while the league may go on talking about the 2020 losses, the reality is that the negotiation on those losses is over. We had this negotiation last summer. The players have suffered and will continue to suffer a significant financial blow that amounts to a significant portion of those losses. “
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A source also added that the union’s analysis of the deal concluded that what the league is asking the MLSPA to drop is “considerably higher” than $ 110 million.
“The point is, at the moment, neither we nor the league have any idea of the impact of the pandemic on the finances of the 2021 season,” Foose said.
Foose also said the league is asking players to shoulder the considerable burden of performance as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage.
“[MLS} wants players to continue to do everything that they do; they want them to play a full season, accept being exposed to all the dangers that remain from the virus, continue to take all the risk from COVID that’s out there in order to provide them with a full season,” he said.
“Second, they want the players to give them additional concessions that exceed the value of the concessions given last year. So that’s the proposal that’s currently on the table from MLS.”
Foose offered that the league and its teams could take other measures to cut costs, including cutting discretionary spending on salaries in 2021. Foose estimated that 40 percent of a team’s salary budget falls into this category. This would have the effect of limiting salaries for players entering the league from leagues abroad.
“[The teams] certainly have the capacity and the capacity and will continue to have the capacity to move forward to reduce significant sums – $ 1 million to $ 2 million per team per year – in their players’ expenses if they determine that it is ‘is what is needed depending on the economic climate and the losses caused by the pandemic, ”he said.
Regarding the start of the season, Foose said the MLSPA had “heard nothing” about when teams should show up for the preseason, and said it “looks like it will be difficult “to start the season in mid-March, as planned. by MLS. “
“The teams haven’t started planning for the preseason, which makes me think it’s [not going to happen]”Said Foose.” We are not in a position to have an expectation at this point. “
A source familiar with the situation added that the league is waiting to sit down with the MLSPA to communicate its plans.
Source: espn.co.uk
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