By Ridge Mahoney, Senior Editor

More than six years after a lawsuit was filed that cost tens of million of dollars and virtually froze labor relations between MLS and its players, the players have unionized.

The players have retained the Washington, D.C. firm of Sherman, Dunn, Cohen, Leifer & Yellig, which specializes in union representation and labor law. The union has been recognized by MLS as the sole bargaining representative for MLS players. Jon Newman, a partner at Sherman, Dunn has been retained as chief counsel.

''They need labor advice and that's what we're here for,'' said Newman, whose firm has specialized in labor law since it was formed in 1947.

''It is an independent union run and governed by the players,'' said Newman. ''It's their union, and they run it.''

A five-member executive board consists of Landon Donovan (San Jose). Tim Howard (MetroStars), Alexi Lalas (Los Angeles), Ben Olsen (D.C. United) and Chris Klein (Kansas City). Each team will have a player representative.

''There are many issues that need to be addressed with MLS,'' said Lalas. '' For example, the minimum salary has not increased since the inception of the league. The players also want to make sure that we have a unified and independent voice through which to work with the league to continue to expand the growth of soccer in the United States.''

Recognition of the union formally severs the players from the NFL Players' Association, which filed a class-action lawsuit on their behalf in February 1997. The suit challenged the single-entity system and alleged that MLS and U.S. Soccer had engaged in monopolistic practices that suppressed competition.

Although MLS won every aspect of the suit and NFLPA's appeals were denied, the league revealed losses of $250 million through testimony and documents. MLS executives said defending the suit cost the league more than $10 million.

''I'm sure they spent as much as we did, if not more,'' said MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis. ''It cost everybody an enormous amount of time and money we could have used on other things.''

Among the players' negotiation points are an increase in the minimum salary of $24,000, implementation of a pension/retirement plan, establishment of grievance processes and some form of free agency amongst league teams.