Major League Soccer referees represented by the Professional Soccer Referees Association have rejected a proposed union contract from the Professional Referee Organization. The Professional Referee Organization employs referee officials for professional soccer leagues. The Major League Soccer season is set to start this week, and replacement referees will officiate games. The Professional Referee Organization will lock out unionized referees and will rely on non-unionized workers for the start of the MLS season. Unionized referees approved strike authorization earlier this month, and are demanding greater pay and improved benefits, better traveling and scheduling arrangements.
See "Replacement referees will be officiating Major League Soccer games due to referee strike", Joe Hernandez, NPR, February 28, 2024