The union that represents soccer referees in the U.S. and Canada has accused the Professional Referee Organization (PRO), which employs and makes match assignments for MLS referees, of engaging in unfair labor practices.
The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) asserts in a filing with the National Labor Relations Board dated April 12 -- a copy of which ESPN FC obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request -- that PRO "engaged in unlawful direct dealing" whereby PRO negotiated directly with a union-represented referee for the purpose of paying them more than the amount stipulated by the collective bargaining agreement signed by PRO and the PSRA back in 2014.