Union referees seeking a new contract before MLS season locked out

President of the Professional Soccer Referees Association, Peter Manikowski, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the organization and why members are being locked out of the new MLS season by their employer. Manikowski also discussed the differences in management between their last successful negotiations in 2019 and now.

Manikowski was an Assistant Referee for 16 years in Major League Soccer. He refereed over 200 matches and 3 MLS Cups in his time. He began working with the PSRA in 2009 when they began their efforts to unionize, and they successfully won their first contract in 2014. This became the first union for professional soccer referees in America. The union is made up of over 260 referees, with 100 of them employed by the Professional Referee Organization (PRO).

Negotiations with PRO began in February, and members of PSRA resoundingly declined the first contract. As talks for a second contract were ongoing, PRO locked out the 100 members of PSRA working in the MLS before the season started. The MLS has been using scab referees to officiate matches through the season's first few weeks, creating several complaints to be raised, Manikowski said. Yet, there has been no movement in the contract negotiations, and Manikowski discussed the delay tactics PRO is utilizing to wear down the members. He talked about the members' reaction to the employer's decision to delay, saying that members have been more vocal and supportive of the union’s efforts.

This is the second lockout in the PSRA’s existence, the first occurring in 2014. Manikowski discussed the differences in their employer's management in 2014 and again in 2019, where they were able to get a contract done. The management features many of the same people who were around in 2014 but not in 2019, and he talked about the efforts by management that he believes are trying to “put the union in their place.” Manikowski said members want a fair share of the record profits and better workplace protections, and the union will not stop until their efforts are rewarded with a better contract.

Listen to the show above to hear more about the locked-out referees from Manikowski.