FAI must respect its workers’ right to collective bargaining, says SIPTU 

SIPTU says it’s called on the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to respect its workers’ right to collectively bargain on pay and conditions adding that such a majority publicly funded body should be adhering to EU policy on workers’ rights which is soon to become law in Ireland. 

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Greg Ennis, said the Government must clarify its views on the “unacceptable” and “untenable position” that is currently being adopted by the FAI.

“The FAI is a majority publicly funded organisation but it is refusing workers a right which is the norm in most other European countries and will soon be an imperative for the Irish Government to develop in our economy,” he said.

“That is the right for workers to come together in a team and negotiate on key issues with their employer.

“Such a situation results in the best outcomes for workers, individual enterprises and the wider economy.  

“In November, the Government must transpose into Irish law the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages.

“Central to this Directive is a call on Governments throughout the EU to increase the number of workers who are covered by collectively bargained agreements.

“In Ireland, we lack the laws protecting the right to collectively bargain that are part of the legal framework in most other European states.” 

“Worse than this we are not even protecting the right of workers to collectively bargain, through the union of their choice, in organisations which are largely funded by the State and involved in the promotion of team sports.

“The Government must clarify its views on the wholly unacceptable, contradictory and untenable position that is currently being adopted by the FAI concerning this issue.

“The FAI cannot remain silent on this issue, as it has done to date, by saying it has ‘no comment’ to make on it, most recently in an article published in The Irish Times today.” 

SIPTU Services Division Organiser, Teresa Hannick, said: “SIPTU members in the FAI have been calling for a right to collectively bargain on wages and conditions with their employer through the ‘Our Team, Our Union’ campaign.

“This campaign makes three clear demands on this largely state-funded organisation.

“These are that workers be respected and allowed to collectively bargain with their employer, that a worker director is placed on the FAI Board and that they receive adequate pay raises.”