From Players' Perspective, MLS CBA Gains Make 2015 Sacrifices Worthwhile

At first, there was relief. Just a couple days before the 2015 MLS season kicked off—and the scheduled debuts of New York City FC and Orlando City—U.S. federal mediators helped the league and players reach a collective bargaining agreement. Negotiations had been contentious. The players voted overwhelmingly to strike. When the deal was announced, most players, fans and observers were simply glad the start of the season had been saved.

That positivity didn’t last long. Although the MLS Players Association succeeded in securing a rather limited form of free agency—and did so without a work stoppage—the prevailing sentiment quickly soured. The union had yielded far too much in its pursuit of…