Announcement of a new MLS Labor Agreement was released today, on a friday afternoon to guarantee low exposure(?). It’s a 5 year collective bargaining agreement. We’ve come a long way in 10 years, when the players actual sued the league. Not many details, but minimum salary will go from about $28k to $34k by 2009, players get a 401k plan, and higher bonuses for regalur season wins.
The agreement increases the minimum salary from $24,000 to $28,000 this season and to $34,000 in the final year of the contract (2009). Foose said the players were happiest with health coverage paid completely by the league as well as retirement benefits and the arbitration procedure.
And curiously:
The players have gained protection for testing positive for recreational drugs, incurring graduated penalties before termination, Foose said.