The SIPTU ‘Our Union, Our Team’ campaign, which demands respect for FAI workers, will increase its activities next month with the announcement of several high-profile supporters, a campaign of political pressure through the local authorities and will be maintaining its leaflet and banner drops at selected domestic football matches.
FAI Football Development Officer and SIPTU Shop Steward, Paul Whelan, said: “The ‘Our Union, Our Team’ campaign was launched in July to coincide with the 2nd Round of the FAI Cup. Since then we have received a great response from the wider footballing community in Ireland. Many have expressed shock that a largely publicly funded body, such as the FAI, can refuse workers the simple right to act collectively in negotiations with management.”
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.”
He added: “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.”