Limerick players considering strike action over missed payments

Trade union officials from SIPTU will meet with the management of both Limerick FC and Bray Wanderers over recent pay disputes.

The FAI announced on Monday that they had banned Bray Wanderers FC from participating in the IRN-BRU Scottish Challenge Cup and that ‘the club will not be permitted to register any new players for the remainder of the 2018 SSE Airtricity League season' after they failed to meet an agreed deadline of paying wages owed to players. Meanwhile the FAI informed Limerick that they too will not be permitted to sign any new players for the remainder of the 2018 SSE Airtricity League season after the club failed to pay their players over the last number of weeks. SIPTU Sport Sector Organiser, Denis Hynes, said ahead of his meeting with Bray:

“SIPTU representatives, and those of our affiliate the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFAI), have worked closely with our members at Bray Wanderers FC in relation to the pay dispute at the club. “The completely unacceptable situation of players being left without wages for several weeks resulted in them voting for strike action in a ballot overseen by SIPTU representatives last week. We will be discussing the situation with the management of the club this evening with a view to finding a just resolution to this dispute.” He added: “Our members in Bray Wanderers FC have been treated in a very poor manner and it is our hope that actions can now be taken which will allow them to return to playing football in an atmosphere which respects their rights as workers. Without such a solution being found they will have no alternative but to undertake the industrial action for which they have voted in favour.”

Hynes added that he will also be discussing the issue of non-pay with members at Limerick FC and PFAI representatives and that they will consider balloting for industrial action, up to and including strike action.

“SIPTU representatives and those of our affiliate, the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland (PFAI), have been liaising closely with our members at Limerick FC. It is a completely unacceptable situation that these players have been left without the wages due to them for several weeks.

“I will be discussing the situation with our members in Limerick FC and PFAI representatives. Following this we will consider balloting for industrial action, up to and including strike action. I have also written to the chairman of Limerick FC requesting an urgent meeting.”