Saturday evening’s Major League Soccer game between Minnesota United and the Los Angeles Galaxy is not being broadcast live due to a worker strike.
The IATSE Local 745 union, which represents video and audio workers for the Loons, announced Saturday lunchtime that its members were on strike.
Just after 7 p.m., the Loons announced that as a result of the strike, the broadcast of the game on Apple TV, via the MLS Season Pass, would not be possible, blaming a “group of non-MNUFC who are responsible for key elements of the broadcast production at Allianz Field” who have “chosen not to work tonight’s game.”
The MNUFC statement did not mention the reason they were not working was due to a strike.
The only place Loons fans will be able to watch the game will be through MLSsoccer.com, with MLS 360 providing highlights, while the radio broadcast on 1500 ESPN will still go ahead.
In its statement, union members said they have been bargaining with Minnesota United for its first contract “for seven months,” and claim the team “has repeatedly stalled and shown no interest in bargaining a fair deal.”
It alleges the team rejected its request “for a $50/day healthcare contribution,” and says they were told they would be allowed instead “to deduct that from your wages.”
“We’re disappointed that Dr. Bill McGuire, former CEO of UnitedHealth, is so reluctant to provide healthcare support that amounts to just $12,000 for the entire season. But we’re told that is an outrageous cost increase,” the striking workers claimed.
It’s the latest development in a turbulent week for United, who fired head coach Adrian Heath on Friday.
🧵 Today we strike. For 7 months, we have bargained with @MNUFC for our first contract. The team has repeatedly stalled and shown no interest in bargaining a fair deal. We feel we have not been take seriously.
— Twin Cities Video Board Workers Union (@MnufcUnion) October 7, 2023
