The new agreement changes the players' share of media rights negotiated in the original CBAGETTY IMAGES
MLS and the MLSPA agreed to a six-year labor contract through '25 following "tense talks that led to some players skipping voluntary workouts and the league threatening a lockout," according to Anne Peterson of the AP. The league and union "agreed Feb. 6 to a five-year labor contract, but the deal had not been ratified when the season was stopped on March 12." Terms of the deal agreed to in February were "pushed back for one year." One of the sticking points was a provision that "allows either side to opt out of the deal because of unforeseen circumstances, like a pandemic." The new agreement "does not tie the clause to attendance, something the league had sought." The agreement also "changes the players' share of media rights negotiated in the original CBA." The share will "drop from 25% to 12.5% in 2023, but will be restored to 25% in 2024." The union on Sunday announced that players had "voted for an agreement but MLS pushed back on the terms and imposed a deadline for a lockout." MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that it was "his decision to threaten the lockout, a move that was criticized" (AP, 6/3). ESPN’s Taylor Twellman was glad that "cooler heads prevailed” in the labor issue. Twellman: “Both the owners and players came to the table and realized what's going on right now: a global pandemic. And you cannot afford the lockout. I applaud both parties to coming to some common sense and realizing we've got to play games” ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/3).
BACK TO THE PITCH: In Minneapolis, Jerry Zgoda notes the new deal between MLS and the MLSPA means the league "will get back [to] playing games again." Garber said that MLS has taken a $1B "hit in lost revenue because of the coronavirus pandemic." MLS was shuttered March 12, just two weeks into its 25th anniversary season. Garber said, "Negotiations are framed as winners and losers. The winner here is this league will go forward and the players are going to be able to have security for five years." The agreement "avoided a labor lockout that Garber threatened when he set a Tuesday deadline and then extended it one day." Garber: ''If we didn't believe we were arguing for and advocating for things really crucial to the future success and viability of the league, I certainly wouldn't have gone down that path" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/4).
MOVING FORWARD: In L.A., Kevin Baxter notes the league and the union added a force majeure clause into the CBA to "allow either side to back out of the contract under extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances, such as a new wave of COVID-19 infections that would force MLS to shut down again." Garber said, "I can assure you, our entire industry and really all business globally, force majeure clauses are going to be a part of agreements going forward" (L.A. TIMES, 6/4).
SPEAKING UP: PRO SOCCER USA's Julia Poe noted while the CBA and the move toward resuming play were "major developments," much of the MLSPA's statement on the deal "focused on the nationwide turmoil following the death of George Floyd." MLS players "pledged to use their platform to further the conversation." Garber said that the overwhelming fear caused by the pandemic and the anger following the past eight days of nationwide protests "ramped up emotions throughout the negotiating process." Meanwhile, the league will now "shift its focus to planning its upcoming tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports on Disney World property, resuming play for the first time since the season was suspended" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 6/3).
