The union did not detail the strike authorization vote.
Negotiators for management and players met Tuesday and Wednesday in
Washington, D.C., in talks convened by George H. Cohen, director of the Federal
Mediation and Conciliation Service.
On Thursday, Toronto defender Nick Garcia was quoted by the Canadian
Broadcasting Corp. as saying: “We’re anticipating not having the season
starting. … As of now, for us, we’re very far apart, even with the mediator
there in D.C.”
Unhappy with the single-entity structure that has resulted in the league
negotiating 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—the point at which an equal number make above or
below—was $88,000 for 323 players listed.
“We have an understanding with the union and the mediator that we will not
publicly discuss what takes place during these bargaining sessions, so we were
disappointed when we saw comment from a number of players that both
characterized the status of the negotiations and discussed the possibility of a
strike,” MLS president Mark Abbott said before Foose’s announcement.
“The meetings this week were productive and we scheduled a number of
additional meetings,” Abbott said. “The players’ comments do not accurately
reflect the proposals that we’ve made to address their concerns or the
productive nature of the discussions we’ve had between MLS and the union.”
The threat of a strike comes as the Philadelphia Union, the league’s 16th
team, is set to join the competition in the league opener.
Abbott said MLS ticket sales have not been hurt by the lack of an agreement.
“The league continues to function business as usual,” he said.
Los Angeles Galaxy captain Landon Donovan, whose loan to Everton is
scheduled to end after Saturday’s match at Birmingham, may be able to extend his
stay in the English Premier League if there’s a strike.
“There’s not a strike, so there’s nothing to address at the moment. Landon
is going to be returning after this game this weekend,” Galaxy coach Bruce
Arena said. “We’re proceeding ahead like we do a couple of weeks before any
season.”
Galaxy midfielder David Beckham already is on loan to AC Milan through the
end of the Serie A season in May.
It is not clear whether players signed to contracts with MLS would have the
ability during a strike to sign with clubs in other countries without MLS
approval. MLS players under consideration for the U.S. World Cup roster could be
sent to foreign clubs for training.