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Counterattack: Will The MLS Players Union Strike?
Should fans of MLS expect a strike? Goal.com's MLS columnist Kyle McCarthy and associate editor Zac Lee Rigg discuss.
Mar 17, 2010 8:40:00 PM
Zac Lee Rigg: Owners joined the public discourse in the last few days, with San Jose's Lew Wolff piping in this morning. What does that mean about how bargaining is progressing?
Kyle McCarthy: Well, it's tough to say considering the hush-hush nature of the talks. What it does mean is that the investors have decided to join the public discourse after meeting in Los Angeles earlier this week. The investors who have talked clearly aren't happy with the Union's portrayal of the situation and want to share their side of the story.
Rigg: It's weird hearing so many different people from all across the country try to spin happenings in meetings that are between a select few in a very specific location. For fans, it must be immensely frustrating not to ever hear anything from the horse's mouth.
McCarthy: Fans are worried and it's tough to blame them. The omens don't look good with player representatives set to meet in Washington on Thursday and a possible strike looming next week. Then again, deals tend to get struck when the pressure is highest and it appears we're approaching that point with the start of the season only a week away.
Rigg: Think there's truth to the anonymous sources that claim the players have voted to authorize a strike if a new deal is not met? If so, what are all the reps going to talk about in Washington?
McCarthy: It's tough to say for sure without any personal knowledge, but I'd expect the players want to have some input as proposals exchange hands. After last week's vote to authorize a strike, the executive board holds the power to strike at any time. It's just a matter of consulting with others to see how far (or whether) the Union will bend on certain key issues, particularly free agency.
Rigg: They're pretty much going to have to give up dreams of free agency this time around aren't they? I imagine if the Union can elicit some change in how the league deals with out-of-contract players, they're going to have to pretend that's a success and move on.
McCarthy: Collective bargaining is an incremental process. The Union has to find someway to move the ball forward on freedom of movement to lay the groundwork for the future. Most players understand that complete free agency is a pipe dream - the question is whether the Union can persuade MLS to crack open the door by allowing some freedom of movement for veteran players at the end of their contracts. Based on the public statements by investors in recent days and the league's desire to protect and retain its single-entity structure, it's hard to see MLS conceding much, if any, ground on that point, isn't it?
Rigg: No, the snarling way league representatives and owners have dealt with free agency suggests they're willing to let the league die rather than cede that point. That said, it's impossible to tell how much of anything said is posturing and how much is truth. Until I see kickoff between Philly and Seattle in a week (assuming it happens), I refuse to believe anything.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
Kyle McCarthy: Well, it's tough to say considering the hush-hush nature of the talks. What it does mean is that the investors have decided to join the public discourse after meeting in Los Angeles earlier this week. The investors who have talked clearly aren't happy with the Union's portrayal of the situation and want to share their side of the story.
Rigg: It's weird hearing so many different people from all across the country try to spin happenings in meetings that are between a select few in a very specific location. For fans, it must be immensely frustrating not to ever hear anything from the horse's mouth.
McCarthy: Fans are worried and it's tough to blame them. The omens don't look good with player representatives set to meet in Washington on Thursday and a possible strike looming next week. Then again, deals tend to get struck when the pressure is highest and it appears we're approaching that point with the start of the season only a week away.
Rigg: Think there's truth to the anonymous sources that claim the players have voted to authorize a strike if a new deal is not met? If so, what are all the reps going to talk about in Washington?
McCarthy: It's tough to say for sure without any personal knowledge, but I'd expect the players want to have some input as proposals exchange hands. After last week's vote to authorize a strike, the executive board holds the power to strike at any time. It's just a matter of consulting with others to see how far (or whether) the Union will bend on certain key issues, particularly free agency.
Rigg: They're pretty much going to have to give up dreams of free agency this time around aren't they? I imagine if the Union can elicit some change in how the league deals with out-of-contract players, they're going to have to pretend that's a success and move on.
McCarthy: Collective bargaining is an incremental process. The Union has to find someway to move the ball forward on freedom of movement to lay the groundwork for the future. Most players understand that complete free agency is a pipe dream - the question is whether the Union can persuade MLS to crack open the door by allowing some freedom of movement for veteran players at the end of their contracts. Based on the public statements by investors in recent days and the league's desire to protect and retain its single-entity structure, it's hard to see MLS conceding much, if any, ground on that point, isn't it?
Rigg: No, the snarling way league representatives and owners have dealt with free agency suggests they're willing to let the league die rather than cede that point. That said, it's impossible to tell how much of anything said is posturing and how much is truth. Until I see kickoff between Philly and Seattle in a week (assuming it happens), I refuse to believe anything.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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