Negotiations to resume MLS play are advancing, but will the MLS owners agree to the newest proposal from the MLSPA?
The MLS Players Association announced on Sunday that its players have agreed on a “package of economic concessions” for the 2020 season – amending this years collective bargaining agreement with MLS owners – and are waiting on a decision from the owners.
COVIC-19 put the 2020 MLS season on hiatus after only two match weeks on March 12, and almost three months down the line, MLS and the MLSPA are almost ready to return to action.
Statement on the status of negotiations: pic.twitter.com/DesCGu9ymL
— MLSPA (@MLSPA) June 1, 2020
Part of the approved deal from MLSPA includes agreeing to play in the summer tournament in Orlando on June 24, extending the current CBA one year, as well as salary and bonus reductions for the entire player pool.
The players returning to play is contingent upon an alteration to this year’s CBA, as well as safety protocols for Coronavirus testing.
Negotiations between the two groups have been ongoing for several weeks. MLS owners this weekend, growing restless, had given the MLSPA a Tuesday deadline to agree to the previous proposal, or risk a lockout.
Now, it is up to the owners to agree to the MLSPA’s changes. Should the owners amend the proposal, the negotiations would begin again, with MLSPA needing to reach out to the players and come to another agreement.
The current proposal between MLS and MLSPA is based on one already agreed upon by the NBA and its players association, with one major change.
MLS insisted upon adding a force majeure clause in the proposal. Force majeures allow both parties to back out of agreed terms if extenuating circumstances arise.
This force majeure triggers if five MLS teams see a 25 percent decline in attendance.
Should the owners agree to the amended proposal set forth by the MLSPA, teams will have two weeks to train in Orlando before the World-Cup-style tournament begins.
Each team would play in a three-game round-robin tournament. The two highest finishers in each group advance to a knockout stage.
