SIPTU is to launch a campaign at football grounds this weekend calling on management at the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to engage with its workforce as a collective, through their chosen trade union.
The 'Our Union, Our Team' campaign will highlight SIPTU's claims that for many years its members employed by the FAI have been seeking to collectively negotiate improvements to their terms and conditions of employment, but that this has been refused by management.
"Our FAI members are launching the ‘Our Team, Our Union’ campaign at FAI Cup matches in Dublin, Drogheda and Cork this weekend to inform the Irish footballing public about their treatment by their employer," said SIPTU Services Divisional Organiser, Teresa Hannick.
The initial stage of the campaign will include banners and leaflet distribution before the matches.
SIPTU said its members at the FAI have endured pay cuts and freezes which have left them well behind in terms of pay, compared to workers carrying out similar roles for other organisations.
The union is calling on the FAI to engage with the Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court on workers’ collective demands.
It is also calling for a worker director to be appointed to the FAI Board.
FAI Football Development Officer, SIPTU Shop Steward and former captain of both Bohemian FC and Shamrock Rovers, Paul Whelan, said that FAI workers who oversee the development of football, or work in administrative roles, are being denied their right to collectively bargain with management on their pay, conditions and other issues affecting their workplace.
"It is unacceptable that while developing a team game, the FAI management and Board refuse to allow its workers to be part of a team in the workplace," Mr Whelan said.
The FAI said it would not be commenting on the matter.
