USL Players Association Issues Counterproposal To USL - KFOX

On Tuesday, the USL Players Association announced a counterproposal with the USL in response to the league’s initial request to pay reductions, among other clauses.

The league’s original proposal, submitted May 9, stated if a player receives housing from their club, their housing will not be affected, and the rest of their salary may be prorated and reduced to $1,500 per month if it previously exceeded that figure. If the season resumes, the player’s first $1,000 of salary per month would be unchanged, but each additional $1,000 would be reduced in increasing increments of 20% (i.e., any amount above $4,000 per month could be reduced up to 80% after the first $1,000).

If a player does not receive housing from their club, their salary may be reduced to $1,800 per month if it previously exceeded that figure. If the season resumes, the first $1,300 per month would be left untouched, and each additional $1,000 would be reduced in increasing increments of 20% (i.e., any amount above $4,300 per month could be reduced up to 80% after the first $1,300).

The league's proposal also stated thatif the league cancels its season before October 1st, the pay reduction summarized above would apply for no more than 30 days from the date of cancellation. After that point, a club would not be obligated to pay a player any remaining compensation or benefits for the 2020 season.

The counterproposal states players with salaries of $2,000 per month or less would maintain their compensation for the entire term of their 2020 contract. Players earning over $2,000 per month could see a salary decrease of up to 10% per month, from June 15 until the end of their contract.

The USLPA’s document specifies that clubs should not be obligated to see those pay reductions through if they want to give players their full wages.

According to one USL player who chose to remain anonymous, “The players and players union are willing to help the league, even though some of our players barely make a livable wage. We have asked for a collective relief effort in the hopes that the league is willing to stand side-by-side with the players to help those clubs that they brought into the league. Contractually, there are no clauses that are forcing us to take a cut. We want to play and want to help. [We] want the league to help the clubs with us."

According to the same USL player, the average salary ranges from $25,000 to $30,000. "That’s why we asked for minimum wage of $20,000. Minimum wage per hour equated out to a full season or 10 months is $20,000. Many of these guys have wives or families with contracts tied to visas. That’s why it’s so concerning that the league is willing to cancel contracts. What happens to visas?"

Locomotive FC players, since the season was suspended, have not taken pay cuts and havebeen required to do individual training, Zoom workouts to stay fit and remain in their market.