VANCOUVER, B.C – The current MLS collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on January 31, 2020. The possibility of a work disruption next season continues to grow as MLS owners and the MLSPA look to improve the league.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber, was in Vancouver ahead of Whitecaps FC’s 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday at B.C. Place. Garber appears ready for a strike.

“Certainly the league would be very prepared for a work stoppage. We are in the pro sports business, and all leagues are preparing for any outcome. You don’t go into any negotiation, on any deal that you’re trying to do, talking about the worst outcome. You try to talk about the best possible outcome. I’ve been in this job for twenty years, and this will be our fourth CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement). Every one of them is difficult.”

If there is going to be labour peace next season, the MLSPA must find some common ground on a wide range of topics. The most contentious issue is charter flights. Each MLS team is permitted four charter flights a season. If a team is traveling for an away match and use a charter, to and from their destination, that would count as two charter flights.

Several players have taken to social media throughout the season to share all the travel delays, frustration, and sleep deprivation they have endured while flying the not so friendly skies.

An vast increase in charter flights will be the hill the MLSPA dies on.

We play 3 straight away games next week. Have to fly to San Jose for a midweek game. I’m pretty sure you can still demand charter flights for these types of trips/games while also trying to eliminate 3 letter acronyms & increasing the salary cap. https://t.co/4COpK2lbR4 — Alejandro Bedoya (@AleBedoya17) September 17, 2019

3 games in a week, cap off the week with a great away result. Now sitting at airport, flight delayed 4 hours till 3pm. Good recovery and day off ☑️ #mlstravel — Tim Parker (@Tim_Parker26) July 22, 2019

Gutted about result last night. We deserved more. Looking forward to a 12 hour travel day which could be done in 6 but hey this is mls. We will get ready for red bulls Wednesday. #Charterflights #msl — Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) August 18, 2019

Big travel week for @WhitecapsFC . Saturday away @SJEarthquakes . Wed away @impactmontreal . Flight cancelled on our way home for Sat game against @NYCFC who are in Vancouver already preparing. @MLS @MLSPA No updates on how or when we will get back to Vancouver. Stay tuned. #VAR — Jake Nerwinski (@jake_nerwinski) August 29, 2019

Appreciate the schedule @mls Away game last Saturday at San Jose. Straight to Montreal for last nights game. Now our flight has been cancelled back to Vancouver 2 days before our @NYCFC game. Who by the way have been in Vancouver preparing since yesterday. 👏🏽😠 #VAR — Scott Sutter (@scott_sutter) August 29, 2019

The NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB and semi-final playoff bound WNBA teams have charter flights.

Sunday's second-round winners will get charter flights to Game 1 of the WNBA semis, commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced. The move was well-received by the WNBAPA: "It recognizes what is at the heart of our concerns: [players'] health and safety."https://t.co/pS4zRvKCxa — ESPN Women's Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) September 15, 2019

Would Commissioner, Garber be supportive of 100% charter flights next season?

“It’s a difficult question to give you a simple answer to,” Garber bemused the question from Har Journalist. “Of course I would be supportive of 100% charters. In the context of everything else that the players are going to be looking for, it all needs to go into the pot. We mutually need to decide how an available pool of money is going to be allocated to a wide variety of needs.

Players are looking for increased compensation. They’re looking for increased movement, an increased number of charters. All that goes into a pot and is stirred around, and then you hope to reach an agreement on all things.”

As MLS continues to add new teams, the price tag for expansion fees continues to soar to $200 million. However, at the end of the day there is only a certain amount of money available in the proverbial ‘pot.’ If the MLSPA wants a massive increase in the amount of charter flights that are available to teams, they can point to sky high expansion fees.

The average cost for a full team charter flight ranges from $150,000 to $200,000 per flight.

Perhaps it would make sense if part of the money that owners earn from expansion fees went into a ‘pot’ to help pay for, and provide more charter flights.

“We do allow our teams to travel via charter on a limited basis,” Garber explained. “I can assure you that there will be more charter travel in the new CBA. Whether it goes all the way to 100%, I think it’s a function of how negotiations go.”

Having available charters is fantastic, but getting an MLS owner with deep pockets to actually use the charter flights that are available is a whole other issue. Several MLS teams don’t use all their charters.

The club with the most travel of any MLS team this season has used 1/4 charters. Whitecaps FC were caught in a storm in Kansas City, while trying to get to New Jersey for a mid-week match against New York Red Bulls. Vancouver was forced to use a charter on May 21, to get to Newark, for a match the next day.

How would Commissioner Garber, make sure owners actually use their charter flights?

“I would assume our teams are utilizing their charter allocation,” Garber said. “You’re shaking your head, so maybe not in Vancouver. I don’t know how many are, and how many aren’t. I would assume that all of our teams are utilizing the vast majority of their approved charters.”

“Does anybody know?” Garber asked the room full or reporters and his staff.

It would be great for players, fans, and the overall sport of more charters were available for teams to use. Players would be well rested, flight delays, and cancellations would be minimal, and the product on the pitch would be better. If MLS wants to take the next step and continue to evolve as a top tier league in North America, more charters are must.

Should’ve flown out of Vancouver last night after early kickoff.

Instead, we wake up at 4:45 am, spend all day in airports (connect in Toronto) & on airplanes w/ no legroom cross country, and just finally landed back in Philly.

What a great recovery day. 🤦‍♂️#MLStravel pic.twitter.com/iiyU81wVf0 — Alejandro Bedoya (@AleBedoya17) April 28, 2019

Making sure MLS owners use all their charter flights is a whole other kettle of fish. That’s why Major League Soccer and the MLSPA could be headed for a lengthy work stoppage.

“It would surprise me if a lot of them were not utilizing them,” Garber doubled down.

“It would surprise me a lot, frankly.”

“I don’t know why they wouldn’t. This is the first time I’ve ever heard that they weren’t using it.”

The good news is that MLS owners and MLSPA have been talking. There is a mutual level of respect between both parties. It is hoped that they can continue with positive discussions behind closed doors as apposed to public posturing.