No soccer league in the world covers more miles than in MLS. Players think charter flights would do a lot to address that.

This is the fourth part of a five-part series examining the key issues players and owners are negotiating in the CBA. You can read the other parts here.

Working Conditions (travel)

Background: Working conditions — specifically travel — is an issue that has been in the news in recent years. The geography of the league makes things difficult even in the best of times, given the disparate climates, weather and distances between teams. The central issue here is charter flights. The cost is significant: approximately $1 million per team, per year if the league was to charter every trip, according to sources. That said, charters for certain trips would range from the unnecessary (Seattle to Portland) to the ridiculous (NYCFC to Red Bull New York).

Beyond the charter issue generally, working conditions covers everything from per diems, disability, relocation expenses and more.

Current agreement: On the charter flight issue specifically, the current CBA limits the amount of charter flights a team can take to four per year, and most teams don’t even use them over the course of the season. Beyond that, there are all sorts of things outlined in the CBA related to working conditions such a per diems (2019: $100.00 ($23 for breakfast; $33 for lunch; $44 for dinner)), relocation expenses ($7,500) and contributions to 401k accounts (3.75 percent of the player’s base salary).

What the MLSPA wants: By all accounts, while the Union would like to see improvements in the travel system, there are other priorities they place above it. In my talks with Foose, he noted that improved Free Agency and compensation rate higher on the list than charter flights, and many players have noted that they’d rather have an additional $5,000 in their pocket per year and deal with a middle seat on a commercial flight.

Foose has also lamented that this is an issue at all, noting that other leagues don’t even address charter flights in the CBA. It’s interesting that the reference in the CBA regarding charter flights is to *expressly* limit them, which means that the league wanted to keep things on a level playing field for its teams.

As to the other working conditions, the MLSPA is sure to seek increases in things like per diems, relocation expenses and the like.

What MLS wants: This is a cost and parity issue, as the league did not want teams vastly outspending others on charter flights. But because 75% of teams aren’t using the charter flights allotted to them as it stands, it’s unclear that raising (or eliminating) the cap would make much of a difference.

Chances of an agreement: Pretty decent I’d say, if only because the MLSPA has other priorities ahead of charter flights. That means it’s likely they’d give up this benefit for gains elsewhere on per diem, relocation and retirement contributions.