CIF-SS commissioner Mike West breaks down soccer referee boycott, wage dispute on Southern Section Sitdown

Mike West says the Southern Section wanted officials to be paid $35/hr across the board, and soccer referees were already there

It's been a whirlwind boys and girls soccer season in the CIF Southern Section. 

The season began Nov. 13 and it's also the first day soccer referees announced a boycott, turning down assignments over a dispute in wages.

Fred Robledo of the Southern California News Group reported that seven of the nine referee associations that serve the section said they'd boycott the 2023-24 season.

New CIF Southern Section commissioner Mike West broke down the situation on the latest episode of the CIF Southern Section Sitdown.

"The officials association for each sport meet with the officials' fees committee, and that meeting is held well before the three-year term," West said. "This last time around, the committee wanted to get things equitable for (all officials) across the board, so we looked at the hourly expectations."

West went on, shedding light on why he thinks soccer officials are disgruntled about their wage. 

"We looked at each sport and identified the expectation for how much time officials need to be on campus for their sport. ... the goal is to get all head officials, at least, to a 35 per hour rate. Some sports were already there, including aquatics and soccer. Those officials did not get a bump (in pay). But saw the other sports (officials) get raises."

The three-year agreement, which started last season (2022-23) pays a two-man crew $75 each for match.

The terms cannot be changed until the three-year term is up, according to the section's bylaws.

FULL EPISODE WITH MIKE WEST

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