Soccer Players Sign Partnership Agreement with CWA

The United Soccer League Players Association (USLPA), the union representing all of the United Soccer League's Championship and League One players, has signed a partnership agreement with CWA to build solidarity, increase collaboration, and provide collective support.

"We look forward to continuing to build solidarity with CWA and its hundreds of thousands of members with this new partnership," said USLPA Executive Committee Member Connor Tobin, who plays for Forward Madison FC in USL League One. "CWA has done amazing work representing their members, and we particularly appreciate their focus on community building, which is something the USLPA strongly believes in. CWA members are active members of their communities in nearly every USL market. We greatly appreciate CWA's support for the players as we work towards a first contract."

For nearly two years, the USLPA has been in talks with the league to try to reach a collective bargaining agreement at the USL Championship level. The process has proven to be challenging, especially when COVID-19 brought play to a halt. After months of rigorous negotiations, the players reached a return to play agreement for both Championship and League One for the 2020 season which enabled competition to resume. In July, the USLPA resumed traditional collective bargaining at the USL Championship level.

For decades, the player experience in the lower divisions of soccer has been characterized by a dramatic range of conditions, some of which are detrimental to the sport itself. This reflects the continued struggle to achieve sustainability in the lower divisions of U.S. soccer. The USLPA sees its role as serving as an integral voice to assist both the USL Championship and USL League One in their efforts to stabilize and grow the second and third divisions in a sustainable way.

CWA members show their support for USL players. Watch the video by clicking here or the play button above.