Player payment saga
PFA furious with FFA over salary cap changes announcement
“At Brisbane the fact is we haven't been paid. Simple as that," .
"I'm 12 months behind in super, I'm owed a lot of bonuses. Players want that security that when they sign a contract the payments will be made.”
PFA's concerns are not just limited to the men’s game, explained McKay, a two-time A-League champion.
“The Matildas in the six months before the (FIFA Women's) World Cup were literally working full-time hours for part-time pay. It has to be rectified.”
McKay’s comments come on the back of PFA’s assertion that FFA had withdrawn its recognition of the players' union and terminated a 2007 Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU). That was a move that, according to PFA, “removes the last legal protection for Australia’s professional footballers”.
In a statement released by FFA, CEO David Gallop denied these claims.
“Any assertion that FFA intended to move forward without a CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) or MOU is wrong," said Gallop.
“FFA will continue to recognise the PFA and the role it plays.
“The fact remains that the current MOU expires this week. After eight years, the details of some key aspects are now outdated due to agreed changes over time and need to be altered to reflect the current landscape, which the FFA is committed to resolving.”
However when contacted FFA declined to expand on what those key aspects were, as well as refusing to confirm or deny the figure of $1.4 million.
An MOU is an agreement between two parties intended to express a convergence of will and an intended common line of action. Considered to be a fundamental foundation when negotiating CBAs.
If no agreement is reached, PFA could take industrial action, with the possibility of a player strike one possible option.
However PFA chief executive Adam Vivian played down those suggestions.
"In terms of strike, I know that's where people naturally gravitate towards, that's a lot further down in the process. That's not where we go," Vivian said.
"We don't just turn around and right there's no more FFA Cup or anything like that. That's not the case. That's a lot further down the process.
"When we explore industrial options, there are a lot of other avenues to go down before you get to strike. Strike is really at the end of the process.
"To be fair, if we end up in that, there's a real fundamental breakdown in the relationship which you've really got to question whether or not it can be repaired if we get to that level."
While both parties continue to claim they are committed to negotiating and finding a resolution, The World Game can confirm that no meetings have been scheduled at this stage.
