NEW YORK -- The Expos released their schedule Wednesday with 22 home games shifted to Puerto Rico, prompting the players' union to say it has not yet approved moving the games from Montreal.

The first homestand in San Juan includes games against the New York Mets (April 11-14), Atlanta (April 15-17) and Cincinnati (April 18-20).

The second homestand has Montreal hosting World Series champion Anaheim (June 3-5) and Texas (June 6-8), and the last includes Florida (Sept. 5-7) and the Chicago Cubs (Sept. 8-10).

"The games require the approval of the players' association. They have not yet given their approval,'' said Gene Orza, the union's No. 2 official. "They should not have put out the schedule.''

Orza, who has been negotiating with management lawyer Rob Manfred, said players have not yet reached an agreement with owners on increased meal money for the trip and on having the team pay for families to join players in Puerto Rico for the games, which originally were to be played at Montreal's Olympic Stadium.

"Rob and the union are working to get approval of the Puerto Rico games, and I assume that will be forthcoming,'' said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer.

The union is concerned that baseball officials moved up by a day the series against the Cubs, originally scheduled for Sept. 9-11. Chicago returns home after that series for a Sept. 12 day game against Cincinnati at Wrigley Field.

"The players are considering whether they would like to have the off-day in Puerto Rico,'' Orza said.

The Expos were sold by Jeffrey Loria to the other 29 teams before last season, when he bought the Florida Marlins. Montreal is being operated by the commissioner's office, which last week established a committee to make plans for the team for 2004 and beyond.

Expos general manager Omar Minaya does not have a 2003 budget yet for his payroll, prompting the New York Yankees and other teams to make repeated inquirers about his top players, including pitcher Bartolo Colon.

Montreal drew just 812,000 fans to Olympic Stadium last season, competing with Florida for the lowest total in the major leagues, and baseball officials wanted the games at San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium to increase revenue.

The Expos' Olympic Stadium opener is April 22 against Arizona. The home finale is Sept. 17 against Atlanta, possibly the last major league game in Quebec.

"We are very pleased that the Expos will be playing once again in Montreal, despite a reduced number of local games,'' team executive vice president Claude Delorme said in a statement. "We are confident our team will be competitive and that fans will continue supporting the Expos and major league baseball's top players.''