Brian Carroll, Danny Cruz reflect on MLS CBA negotiations
Brian Carroll and Danny Cruz were the Philadelphia Union's two player reps for the dramatic collective bargaining negotiations between Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Union.
Now that the deal is done, the two midfielders took some time on Thursday to talk with reporters about the process. Here's a transcript of their remarks, edited slightly for clarity, but not much.
Overall reflections:
We're proud of the work all the representatives put together in this process. It wasn't easy for anybody, but everybody put their best effort into it. We're happy that a deal is done has been reached and now the focus has turned to the season starting and trying to be successful. I just wanted to thank all the fans and everybody for support through the entire process.
On achieving free agency in some form for the first time in MLS history, and getting it without a strike or lawsuit:
Going, in that was a goal of ours. In order to get that, we would have to stay firm and stay together, and stay behind that ideal that we wanted to achieve. It took a lot of effort, and it took us not getting the perfect deal that's going to make everybody happy. But that's in the agreement now, and obviously we would hope that in the next negotiations the players union will be able to improve upon that
On whether a strike vote was taken:
Internally, we did come to a strike vote at some point during the process. Only after some last second feelers were placed out from both sides did we come back to the table and eventually [reach a deal] that both parties could agree upon.
So it was very tense and very trying and difficult and stressful at times, for I'm sure both sides. I don't think there's any chance we would have been able to achieve some sort of free agency without getting to the point that we did, and without the other side knowing how strong and unified we can be.
On dissent within the union's ranks over whether to take the deal that was agreed to:
It's okay for a team or two to have their opinion and representatives from another team or two to have their opinion… I'm proud of the work everyone put in.
On differences between this CBA negotiation and the last one five years ago, which Carroll was also part of:
One of the big differences between this negotiation and the last one is five years ago, we didn't have as much leverage as we potentially had this time around.
The amount of votes taken this time around on multiple subjects, even the one to actually end it in a strike before coming back to the table hours later, it was just a lot more tense and a lot more - guys went through the process correctly, but there was a lot more back and forth and discussion about more serious topics this time around.
I would say everyone was prepared to do the negotiations last time, but this time around it seemed like guys were dialed in even more. I think in both negotiations, guys honestly put forth into the process a ton of energy, a ton of thought, and a ton of work.
It just seemed like this one, there was a lot more pressure - huge decisions being made because we had more leverage this time around. And the topics this time around of what we were trying to get in this negotiation were a little bit more serious than the last time around.
On whether getting the union to agree a deal was harder this time than it was last time:
It was harder this time around, because the votes on things, they were a little bit more divided. It's not to say that everyone was happy last time, and that everyone's happy this time. It just seems like we achieved a better deal, but not everyone is going to be completely satisfied.
It's not the perfect deal, but it's a better deal than we had, and the best deal I think we could have achieved given the leverage we had and the process we went through.
On involving younger players in collective bargaining talks, not just veterans:
It was amazing to see not only more people involved in the room during these negotiations, but also the age and experience came down a little bit. Because those guys are going to be the ones heavily involved in the next negotiations in five years. I think it was invaluable that those guys be involved and have a choice.
The idea is to have the best deal possible that covers the largest player pool, but at the same time you have to understand that you are doing this for the players in the future [even though] you might not see any benefit of the deal.
On raising the minimum salary immediately to $60,000, giving every MLS player a living wage for the first time in league history, with scheduled raises throughout the CBA term that will bring the level to the $70,000 range in 2019:
I think it's a step in the right direction, and it's something we needed to achieve in this deal. To see where that minimum is going to raise to by the end of this five year term, I think is a big deal and it's something we were happy to be able to achieve for that type of player in our league. I'm confident that the group going forward for these negotiations in five years will be able to improve upon that even further.
Overall reflections:
This wasn't an easy decision. It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my entire life. I told my teammates that and I stand by that.
The fact that at some point in our careers as players we're going to be able t choose where we want to live and what's best for us, in my eyes, is huge. And it puts a lot of responsibility on the clubs now to really treat their players well while they're there. I think that's a key note that shouldn't be lost in this entire thing. It's responsibility.
This CBA was a big deal, and it wasn't easy to come to the conclusion that we did, but we did it. It's a decision that we made and we stand by it as a union. Our players believe in us and we're proud of the movement that we've made.
On how close the Union came to striking:
I think we were closer [to striking] than people believe.
On whether it was a distraction for him and his teammates during preseason training:
I would like to think that from a mental perspective, our guys were focused enough, and I think the results in preseason showed that.
On disagreements within the union's membership, and reports of some players being upset with the final deal:
There's disagreements in everything, and you try to come to conclusions based on the information that you have. There's certainly players that are going to be unhappy. For me personally the whole point about this sticking together - it sucks for me to see reports like that.
On the requirement that players must be at least 28 years old with eight years of MLS service time in order to earn free agency:
I'm going to have been in the league 10 years before I'm able to make a move to where I want to be, what state I want to be in, whatever it may be.
That being said, I know we use the word a lot, but I'm extremely proud we were able to get it into the CBA. We were able to get it into the CBA with a five-year deal [length of the agreement] that there's going to be player choice…
I thought about guys who are going to come into the league as young guys. I don't think the idea that clubs are going to be responsible for treating their players well should be taken for granted.
On being at the bargaining table as one of the younger players in the room:
BC's and my immediate needs never came into our minds. Our job is to represent our group…
The reason why I got into this or at least wanted to be involved was because of the last CBA deal. I wanted to, as a younger guy, have a voice. I felt like in the room this time, there were a lot more younger guys.
That's not to say we feel the last deal wasn't done the right way or anything like that. It's just that it was good to see younger guys learning how this process plays out. It was absolutely eye-opening for me. To know that those voices were in the room is an important aspect of this entire thing, and ultimately we came to the conclusion that we got the best deal that we feel we could possibly get.