MLS: union of referees authorise possible strike if no collective bargaining agreement is reached

Referees in North America authorised their union, PSRA (Professional Soccer Referee Association, USA-CAN), to strike if a collective bargaining agreement is not reached with the PRO agency (Professional Referee Organization, USA-CAN) before the opening matchday of the MLS (Major League Soccer, USA-CAN) on 08/03/2014, stated the PSRA on 22/02/2014.

Steve Taylor, the lead negotiator for the PRSA union, indicated that this action does not mean a strike will occur, but that it shows solidarity among the referee union ahead of further negotiation sessions with PRO. PRO is funded by the MLS, but the agency is responsible for all professional referee assignments in the United States and Canada (generally, the top three divisions of soccer in the USA and Canada).

Professional referees in North America unionised for the first time in 2013, and this potential agreement with PRO would be the first ever CBA (collective bargaining agreement) between referees and any soccer management agency in the United States and Canada. There has never been a referee strike since the inception of the MLS in…