Major League Soccer referees protested outside the league’s headquarters after being locked out before the start of the 2024 season. The lockout, a denial of work by an employer during a labor dispute, was imposed on the referees after they voted overwhelmingly to reject a tentative new union contract with a vote of 95.8%, with 97.8 % of the 260 union members voted. The union has also alleged unfair labor practices against the MLS and the Professional Referee Organization. The union cited that members rejected the deal in part due to an attempt by the MLS and PRO to add a no strike and no lockout deal for the 2024 season and that wages would have been frozen, protecting job security would have been rolled back and issues such as high unemployment benefits would not be addressed. workload and travel for referees.