SIPTU launch ‘Our Union, Our Team’ campaign for respect for FAI workers

SIPTU has announced that the ‘Our Union, Our Team’ campaign, which demands that the management of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) respects its workforce and engages with them as a collective through their chosen union SIPTU, will be launched at football grounds this weekend.

Teresa Hannick, SIPTU Services Divisional Organiser, , explained the reasons and motivations behind the campaign.

“For many years our members employed by the FAI have been seeking to collectively negotiate improvements to their terms and conditions of employment, this has been refused by management,” she said.

“In response, our FAI members are launching the ‘Our Team, Our Union’ campaign at FAI Cup matches in Dublin, Drogheda and Cork this weekend to inform the Irish footballing public about their treatment by their employer.”

FAI Football Development Officer, SIPTU Shop Steward and the former captain of both Bohemian FC and Shamrock Rovers, Paul Whelan, said: “FAI workers who oversee the development of football at the grassroots level in communities across the Republic of Ireland or work in administrative roles are being denied their right to collectively bargain with management on their pay, conditions and other issues affecting their workplace.

“It is unacceptable that while developing a team game the FAI management and Board refuse to allow its workers to be part of a team in the workplace.

“The situation is particularly intolerable when it is considered that pay for the FAI staff is largely funded by government agencies and local authorities.”

FAI Football Development Officer and SIPTU Shop Steward Paul Keogh, said: “The SIPTU FAI Team have three clear demands.

“Firstly, the FAI management and Board engage with them as a collective when negotiating wages and their conditions of employment.

“The FAI should also respect the State’s industrial relations bodies and engage with the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court on the workers’ collective demands.

“Secondly, a Worker Director is appointed to the FAI Board. We believe this would benefit good governance and ensure that workers’ issues are given due importance.

“Our third demand is for fair pay.

“Due to financial crises in the FAI, that were not of their making, staff have endured pay cuts and freezes which have left them well behind in terms of pay to workers carrying out similar roles for other organisations.

“This pay gap must be made up to ensure the FAI can attract the best workers in the future.”

The initial stage of the campaign will include banners and leaflet distribution before the following FAI Cup 2nd Round matches; Bohemian FC vs Shamrock Rovers in Dalymount Park, Dublin 7, on Friday, 19th July, kick-off at 7.45 pm; Drogheda United vs Dundalk in Weavers Park, Drogheda, on Friday, 19th July, kick-off at 7.45 pm; and Cork City vs Finn Harps in Turners Cross, on Saturday, 20th July, kick-off at 5.00 pm.