MLS and Players Union Agreed To New Collective Bargaining Agreement
By Ty Duffy
Hearing from a player inside MLS negotiations that a deal has been agreed upon between MLS and players. Working on details.
— Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_TV) March 5, 2015
The outlook looked bleak, but MLS and the MLS Players Union have reached a new collective bargaining agreement. The season should begin on time Friday night.
Details are scarce. Even the length of the agreement is in dispute. But, per Ives Galarcep, players were not pleased. Seven teams voted against the agreement.
So #MLSCBA deal is done. Hearing lots of players unhappy w/final deal. I'm told 7 teams voted against it (KC, RSL, RBNY, NYC, MON, FCD, COL)
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) March 5, 2015
That’s not surprising, since the owners had substantial leverage.
America can now exhale and return to not caring one way or another about MLS.
UPDATE: Here are some details via the Orlando Sentinel.
* Players who are 28, with eight years experience are eligible for free agency. How much they can increase their salary is capped.
* There will be an increase in the total salary cap. The player minimum increases from $36,500 to $60,000.