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MLS president Mark Abbott: "What I can say is the meetings this week were productive and we have scheduled an additional number of meetings."

MLS' Abbott: Players comments do not reflect productive nature of talks
MLS president Mark Abbott said he did not want to comment about the labor negotiations with the MLS Players Union with a mediator. But he felt he had to in wake of comments from several players and the strike vote that was made public Thursday.

http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/sections/ ... e_id=22859


CBA

'WE'RE UNIFIED'
Red Bulls players rep Wolyniec on the near unanimous strike vote. John Wolyniec on the possibility of the strike. "The players are ready for that if they don't get a fair agreement," he said. If anything, the players' vote to give the MLS Players Union bargaining committee the right to strike later this month showed how together they really are.

The players voted 383-2 to strike if Collective Bargaining Agreement talks aren't resolved by March 25, when the expansion Philadelphia Union opens the season against the Seattle Sounders FC.

http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/sections/ ... e_id=22858

MLS avoids strike with 5-year CBA

NEW YORK -- Major League Soccer and its players have signed a five-year labor contract that avoided a strike scheduled before the MLS season opener on March 25.

Negotiators began intensive talks Thursday in Washington, D.C., and the deal was signed shortly after 1 p.m. ET on Saturday.

"This can all be a positive relationship going forward," Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan said. "Going forward we're going to have a real relationship with the league as opposed to being combative at times."

MLS Players Union head Bob Foose said a majority of players will receive guaranteed contracts for the first time and there will be increased player rights within the league when contracts expire.


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Thank goodness. The strike almost killed the NHL, it would have been detrimental to the MLS.