U.S. Soccer Press Releases: Labor Negotiation

The following includes the public statements and press releases made by U.S. Soccer.

January 13, 2005: Players Association Refuses Mediation Offer
January 10, 2005: Players Association Rejects Offer For Binding Arbitration

PLAYERS ASSOCIATION REFUSES U.S. SOCCER’S MEDIATION OFFER

Union Rejects 2005 No-Strike Provision

CHICAGO (January 13, 2005) — U.S. Soccer’s offer to go to independent mediation to resolve the current labor dispute with the U.S. Men’s National Team Players Association (USMNTPA), if the union agreed to a no-strike provision throughout the remainder of World Cup qualifying, has been rejected by the USMNTPA. Had the proposal been accepted, U.S. Soccer would have immediately called the U.S. Men’s National Team into training camp to prepare for the opening match in the final round of the FIFA World Cup qualifying scheduled for February 9 in Trinidad.

Statement from U.S. Soccer President Dr. S. Robert Contiguglia:
“This is the second time in a week that the union has obstructed our efforts to get the U.S. Men’s National Team on the field for the upcoming World Cup qualifying match. We’re especially disappointed by the PA’s refusal to move forward toward a resolution of this labor dispute in time for the Feb. 9 opener, because it disappoints so many U.S. soccer fans, who we believe deserve better.”

No new negotiations are scheduled with the players association at this time. If a collective bargaining agreement is not reached by February 1, U.S. Soccer will field a team of alternate players to participate in the match. As of today, U.S. Soccer has begun calling alternate players into a training camp scheduled to begin as soon as possible at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

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PLAYERS ASSOCIATION REJECTS BINDING ARBITRATION
IN U.S. SOCCER EFFORT TO RESOLVE PLAYER DISPUTE
IN ADVANCE OF WORLD CUP QUALIFIER IN TRINIDAD

CHICAGO (January 10, 2005) — The U.S. Soccer Federation, the national governing body for soccer in the United States, has been notified by the U.S. Men’s National Team Players Association that they have rejected U.S. Soccer’s proposal for binding arbitration to resolve the current labor dispute. Had the proposal been accepted, U.S. Soccer would have immediately called the U.S. National Men’s Team into Training Camp to prepare for the opening match in the final round of the FIFA World Cup qualifying scheduled for February 9 in Trinidad.

The binding arbitration proposed by U.S. Soccer called for each party to submit one final proposal (which for the Players Association could have been their most recent proposal or an adjusted proposal). Following those submissions, an arbiter would have selected a single proposal in its entirety.

Statement from U.S. Soccer President Dr. S. Robert Contiguglia:
"U.S. Soccer is very disappointed in the PA’s decision to reject the offer of resolution in the form of arbitration. The surest path to resolving this labor dispute is independent, objective binding arbitration. Assuming the Players Association genuinely believes its bargaining stance and proposals to date have been fair and reasonable, we cannot conceive of any reason why the Players Association would not have wholeheartedly embraced and agreed to this proposal."

U.S. Soccer’s previous proposals have offered a substantial increase in total compensation (38 percent in comparison to the previous term), but after two years of negotiations the union is still demanding a 108 percent raise (in comparison to the previous term) – more than double its current wages.

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