FAI ‘grassroots’ members get ‘paltry’ offer to restore pay

Siptu has said that while the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is to spend several million euro on new contracts for the management of the Ireland team, its members have received a "paltry" offer to restore pay and pensions cut over recent years.

Siptu said it would now be bringing a claim to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for the restoration of pay and employer's pay contributions.

Siptu sector organiser, Denis Hynes said the union's members in the FAI experienced very substantial cuts to their pay in 2012.

“Some workers lost over one third of their pay while all lost at least 10 per cent. As well as the cuts in pay the workers saw massive reductions in the employer’s contribution to their pensions.”

“Following the Irish national team’s impressive performance at Euro 2016 the FAI stands to receive €11 million. The association is also in negotiations to complete extensions in the contracts of the national team’s management, which will cost several million euro. Both these developments are welcome.”

Mr Hynes said Siptu members in the FAI largely operated “at the grassroots level of the game in Ireland and as such it is their work which lays the foundations for success at the national level”.

“When the cuts in their pay and pension contributions were imposed in 2012 there was a commitment from management that they would only be for 18 months.

“Recent discussions with the management of the FAI have resulted in it accepting that it will reinstate a small fraction of the pay and pension contributions due to our members. The paltry offer of a mere 3 per cent restoration of pay and pension contribution is unacceptable to our members who have decided to refer the dispute to the WRC.

“They expect management to show them the level of respect they deserve and engage in negotiations on a satisfactory pay and pension restoration plan at the WRC.”

Mr Hynes said Siptu represented more than 50 staff in the FAI who worked mainly as development officers or administrative personnel.