Collective bargaining agreement between USL Championship and USLPA to expire without resolution in sight

Bubbling at the surface and what transpired during the Riverhounds’ USL Championship title victory in November, bought to light the USL Players Association efforts in the past year-plus to ratify and make improvements for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), as the current agreement is set to expire on Wednesday night, at 11:59 p.m.

As of late afternoon Wednesday, there is no resolution in sight.

Below you will find the most up-to-date message shared by USL Players Association on Tuesday, after the 38th and most recent bargaining session with the USL wrapped up.

The USL has not issued any statements regarding the current negotiations.

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Following the Riverhounds league title win in November, when players used the platform with a Nationally Televised audience to take a stand, wearing t-shirts during the ceremonial walk-in before the match kicked off which read:

USL HQ:

Pro-Rel?

Try Pro

Standards First

After the Hounds’ win and subsequent ditched post-match ceremony, as the league did not follow through to holding a formal trophy presentation on the field after the match, in all likelihood as a response to this protest, USLPA’s Executive Director, Connor Tobin spoke with Pittsburgh Soccer Now in an exclusive interview.

Tobin drove home the association’s primary points of emphasis in negotiating a new CBA central to players’ core welfare:  healthcare, improving working conditions and increasing overall compensation.

Former Riverhounds goalkeeper Eric Dick issued a statement of solidarity on Tuesday evening.

What’s behind all of this?

The USL has announced its intention to create a new top tier, starting possibly in 2028, as well implementing a system of promotion/relegation, which would be a first in U.S. soccer.

 

With the USL pushing Promotion-Relegation and Division I league messaging feverishly since this announcement was made early this year, Tobin and the players wanted to make it clear — with an opportunity to use the nationally televised broadcast of the USL Championship’s Final as a platform — that they need to still improve basic working conditions and standards.

“From a player point of view, I think the message is pretty clear, particularly geared towards the league office that some of these concepts like Pro-Rel are very exciting. We understand that, but I think a lot of us are excited by that as well. But it is that being built upon a structure that isn’t working for everyone. We’ve got to address some of these core professional standards. Prior to going down all these routes like that, there can’t be these two different realities. I think that’s what the messaging was addressing.”

When reached previously, the league offered no comment with regards to the current negotiations.

The USL Players Association was founded in January of 2018. In November of 2019, the United Soccer League formally recognized the USLPA as the collective bargaining agent for all USL Championship players, as authorized by USL Championship Players. In February of 2020, the United Soccer League formally recognized the USLPA as the collective bargaining agent for all USL League One players, as authorized by USL League One players.

The USLPA represents all players in either league who are party to a USL standard player contract. The USLPA does not represent any players party to an academy or loan contract.

Each club has one player representative, plus Riverhounds SC midfielder Robbie Mertz has served on the Players’ Executive Board.

USL and USLPA Announce Landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement