JERSEY CITY (Ticker) -- Claiming a work stoppage is the last thing he wants, Major League Baseball Players Association chief Donald Fehr announced Monday that the union has postponed setting a strike date.

With members of the players' union in attendance at the O'Hare Hilton in Chicago, Fehr revealed that the union has seen enough progress recently and as a good faith measure would not set a walkout date. Fehr did say that there would be a conference call on Friday if no deal was reached.

Recently the players agreed to testing for steroids, but the dispute over revenue and how it is shared does not appear to be anywhere near a resolution.

Since some teams are playing Monday, a few have sent alternate player representatives to Monday's meeting, such as Oakland's Mark Mulder and Anaheim's Jarrod Washburn. Mulder and Washburn both pitched Sunday.

Players and owners reportedly have reached agreement on minimum salaries and financing of the benefit plan. The sides still are discussing revenue sharing, a luxury tax and a worldwide draft.

Players are anxious to reach a new agreement instead of facing a possible lockout before the start of the 2003 season. By setting a strike date, the union could create a negotiating deadline, more so than a strike threat.

The owners' proposal would levy a 50 percent tax on portions of payrolls over $98 million. Players have complained that the tax, in combination with revenue sharing, could serve as a payroll cap, which they oppose.

Although still far apart, the sides have gotten closer to agreeing on revenue sharing, which ranges from a transfer of $49 million to $70 million from wealthier clubs to poorer clubs, the Times said Friday.

August 12 was the date of the last baseball strike in 1994, when the postseason was wiped out for the only time.