March 11, 2010

STRIKE!
MLS players vote not to play if CBA isn't resolved by season opener

The MLS Players Union Thursday overwhelmingly voted to strike if their Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations aren't resolved by the Major League Soccer season-opener between FC Seattle Sounders and the Philadelphia Union on March 25, according to league sources.

The vote was virtually unanimous at 383 in favor and two against.

The previous CBA had expired on Jan. 31, but both sides had agreed twice to extend the deadline because they felt progress has been made.

This week a mediator was brought in to resolve the issues.

MLS and the union have accepted the invitation of George H. Cohen, the director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) to serve as a mediator during the talks in Washington, D.C.

If the players do strike, it would put the Red Bulls' MLS season opener against the Chicago Fire at new Red Bull Arena on March 27 in jeopardy.

There have been no comments from MLS or the players union as of late afternoon Thursday.

More details and updates as they come in.