MLS Players To Strike If No Deal By March 25
Est. 1993
Major League Soccer players voted to strike if a new labor contract isn’t agreed to before the first season opener on March 25.
The league’s first collective bargaining agreement, a five-year deal, originally was set to run out Jan. 31 but was extended twice while negotiations continued. It expired Feb. 25 after the MLS Players Union refused another extension.
“Recent comments from players simply reflect the fact that the players are unified and, per the results of our strike vote, will not begin the new season if a new agreement with the league is not reached,” union executive director Bob Foose said in a statement Thursday.
Unhappy with the single-entity structure that has seen the league negotiate all contracts since play began in 1996, players want greater free-agent rights and a higher percentage of guaranteed deals.
Player income averaged $147,945 at the start of last season, according to the union. But the median was $88,000 for 323 players listed. This comes on the heels of the MLS Cup attracting 1.1 million viewers, its highest rating ever for the event.
