MLS Players Union announces agreement

With the top 12 topics in the forum being "Nick Sucks" threads, a bit of good news coming out MLS today. Here are a few of the key items:

• The current minimum salary of 24K will increase to 28K next year, and eventually to $34K in 2009.

• A 401(k) plan with mandatory league contributions of 2% next year and 3% in 2009.

• Developmental players will receive fully paid medical benefits for the first time (suprised to hear they didn't in the past).

• Health care benifits to be fully paid by MLS.

• MLS and the Union will enter into a 5 year group license revenue sharing agreement which will increase by over 300% the amount paid by the league for the use of the players' group images.

While this won't prevent players like Eddie Gaven from leaving, it's a step in the right direction and hopefully may encourage more younger players to hone their skills in MLS instead of overseas.


http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20041111&content_id=18746&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp