In a midnight session, the National Football League Referee Association struck a tentative deal the league that will get the referees and other officials back on the field.
This new deal calls for their salaries to increase from an average of $149,000 a year in 2011 to $173,000 in 2013, rising to $205,000 by 2019. The current DB pension plan will remain in place for current officials through the 2016 season or until the official earns 20 years’ service after which it will be frozen. All new hires from 2017 and onward will have a DC plan.
Read: Pensions and issue in NFLRA labour dispute
The annual league contribution made on behalf of each game official will begin with an average of more than $18,000 per official and increase to more than $23,000 per official in 2019.
The tentative deal must be ratified by 51% of the union’s 121 members. They plan to vote Friday and Saturday.