What’s next for AFL Women’s pay and conditions dispute?
The vote didn’t pass and the AFL Women’s collective bargaining agreement hangs in limbo. We cast an eye over where both sides sit after a week of drama, and look at how things could play out from here.
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It’s been a huge week in the AFLW.
We cast an eye over where both sides sit after a week of drama, and look at how things could play out from here.
WHAT’S THE STATE OF PLAY?
The playing group remains split. Only 70 per cent of players — including Erin Phillips, Sharni Layton, Ebony Marinoff and Chloe Molloy — have voted in support of the deal on offer, which needed at least 75 per cent of players to agree in order to pass. Now that the vote has failed, consultation has begun and renegotiation — if the AFL agrees to come back to the table — could occur.
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WHAT’S THE DEAL ON OFFER?
Three-year deal.
2020 — eight games, plus three weeks of finals. Pay increase of 21 per cent.
2021 — nine games, plus three weeks of finals. Pay increase of 7 per cent.
2022 — 10 games, plus three weeks of finals. Pay increase of 16 per cent.
The association said its ultimate goal is a competition where every team plays once, but that it had “negotiated hard to get to 10 games per team by 2022”.
-Players to receive their first payment by the time they start pre-season in late November.
-Players will not be contracted for more hours per week, but total hours will increase given the extra weeks of the season as the deal progresses.
-Prize money increased.
-Notice of each year’s fixture by July of the year prior.
WHAT DO THOSE OPPOSING THE DEAL WANT?
This is not a dispute about money. The primary concerns of some who have opposed the deal — including Darcy Vescio and Meg McDonald — surround greater transparency on what the deal actually entails, including what it says has been “different messaging” on player pay.
Three-year deal
2020 — nine games, plus finals
2021 — 11 games, plus finals
2022 — 13 games, plus finals
PLUS “a commitment from the AFL to working towards a fair competition in which we play every team once by 2023”.
The union said that the AFL had refused to agree on the basis of competition sustainability and an inability to guarantee broadcasting of all games if the fixture extends beyond 10 home and away rounds.
— It disputes the AFLPA’s claims of the pay increases, saying increases in hours over the three years actually equates to increases of 7 per cent (2020), zero per cent (2021) and 6 per cent (2022) based on hourly rates. The union’s declarations are only on season totals. They want 5 per cent plus inflation year-on-year.
— Wages to not be linked to AFL rookie wages, plus a pay equity review during the life of the CBA
— To see the key terms of the CBA as they will appear in the agreement, not as a slideshow “infographic” as has been provided to players. The union says this won’t be available until it’s agreed upon.
— Greater representation in negotiations. They say they’d felt pressured to accept the deal. They also want more communication on the vision for the competition.
WHERE TO NOW?
It is said to be the league’s final offer. The league told the Herald Sun this week that it remained committed to the long-term success of the competition but would not be drawn on whether it was willing to go back to the table.
The union has hit the phones to speak with players who opposed the deal, and is reportedly planning meetings with clubs who opposed in the greatest numbers.
As for how that’s tracking three days after the votes were tallied, the AFLPA declined to comment on how and if conversations with players were progressing when contacted by the Herald Sun on Tuesday.
If a deal can’t be agreed to, the players could take industrial action.
WILL THE 2020 SEASON GO AHEAD?
At this stage, yes. Unless players threaten industrial action or withdraw their services, all planning at the moment is for the 2020 season to go ahead as planned with a start date in early February to be announced as soon as the deal is sorted.
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Players can play without a CBA in place — they did just that in the first two seasons of the fledgling competition. It just means they play on individual player contracts and without some additional benefits. A pre-season start date — which could be as soon as four weeks away — remains up in the air. The draft is locked in for October 22.
Originally published as What’s next for AFL Women’s pay and conditions dispute?