MLS players vote to strike

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Major League Soccer players overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling for a strike if a new collective bargaining agreement with league owners has not been reached by March 25, when the new season is scheduled to begin.

The vote was 350-2 in favor of a strike, the Washington Post reported Thursday. League and union officials met for two days in Washington with federal mediators, the newspaper said, and agreed to meet again, but no deal appears close.

The league’s collective bargaining agreement expired in January. Team owners have pledged not to lock out players if a new contract is not reached, opting to continue operations under terms of the old deal. The players, however, want a new contract before beginning the season.

Calls by The Times to union officials were not returned.

-- Kevin Baxter