USLPA Send Counterproposal to League for 2020 Season

Although the United Soccer League has allowed clubs to return to the pitch and practice in groups of four, the bigger issue still remaining involves player salaries. Earlier today, the USL Player's Association rejected the league's plan for economic relief and issued their own counterproposal.

Specifically, the USLPA included these points in their plan:

• The standard players' contracts are valid, enforceable, and guaranteed throughout their entire term regardless of whether there is a playing season.
• Players making more than $2,000 per month offered to take a 10% pay cut on remaining 2020 wages.
• The USL matches the salary cuts.
• Clubs agree to a minimum player salary of $20,000 annually beginning next year.
• The USL agrees to increase its bargaining frequency to every 14 days until a new collective bargaining agreement is established.

The USLPA said that players making less than $2,000 per month would not be affected by their counterproposal to the league. If clubs want to honor the terms of the original player contracts, they will be able to do so.

When I recently spoke with El Paso Locomotive FC general manager Andrew Forrest, he told me that all players on the club are being paid their full 2020 salary and there were no plans to change that. However, other teams might not be as fortunate as the Locomotive. Since the USL expanded to 30 clubs, it is unclear if any of them are not financially able to continue their operations as a result of the pandemic.