The Professional Referees Organization (PRO) will lock out MLS referees effective February 18 at noon ET, PRO announced Saturday.
The news comes shortly after the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), the union that represents professional referees in North America and Canada, announced that its members voted overwhelmingly to revoke its leadership's tentative agreement with PRO for a new one Reject collective agreement (CBA) 95.8 percent voted “no”.
To kick off the MLS season, Inter Miami hosts Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. Unless there are drastic changes in the next few days, this game will be officiated by replacement referees. There are a whole host of MLS games this weekend, the first of the 2024 season.
The Athletic reported on January 22 that PRSA members voted unanimously to authorize a strike. The Athletic also previously reported that the PSRA filed an unfair labor practices lawsuit with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), alleging that PRO “did direct deals,” bypassed union leadership and communicated directly with PSRA members.
“We live for the game and give it 100 percent of our commitment, experience, fitness and skill,” PRSA president and chief negotiator Peter Manikowski said in a statement on Saturday. “The rapid growth of the MLS has significantly increased the mental and physical demands on officials and therefore also increased the demands on our professional and private time.
“Our members demand not only fair compensation at a time when the league is experiencing record growth, but also the opportunity to support themselves on the road and at home in order to continue to perform at the highest level that this sport can requires.”
The previous CBA between the PSRA and PRO, the MLS-funded organization that manages professional officiating in the United States and Canada, expired on January 15. The leadership of both groups reached a tentative agreement last week, but PRSA members rejected it.
“Time was of the essence to reach a fair deal and move forward together with renewed confidence as we enter our 12th year of supporting the growth of the professional game in the United States and Canada,” said Mark Geiger, General Manager of PRO, in a statement. “The result of the member vote is disappointing.”
In a statement following the news, MLS released a statement saying the CBA had “made PRO members the highest paid soccer officials in the world.”
“It is extremely disappointing that officials voted against the PSRA and PRO’s tentative agreement on a new CBA,” Nelson Rodríguez, MLS executive vice president of sports products and competition, said in a statement.
“PRO has worked for months and addressed all the issues raised by the PSRA bargaining unit. It is also regrettable that the PSRA rejected PRO's offer of a mutual no-strike-no-lockout commitment, which would have allowed all match officials to continue working while negotiations were ongoing.
“PRO has informed us of its contingency plan for the upcoming MLS season, which includes the use of experienced professional match referees supported by experienced VAR officials. We have confidence in the comprehensive plan they have put in place.”
PRO announced that total first-year salary increases included: 10-33 percent for referees, 75-104 percent for assistant referees and 15-100 percent for video game officials, as well as increased game fees for both regular season and playoff games. The deal also included first/business class air travel for the playoffs and MLS Cup throughout the term.
PRSA said it was committed to returning to the negotiating table immediately. PRO said it remained committed to reaching an agreement with the PRSA.
Required reading on the eve of the 2024 MLS season
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