Sports workers score better conditions

By Frank Enright

New South Wales Rugby League players have negotiated the best employment conditions of professional sports people in Australia. The players are members of the Rugby League Players' Union, which joined the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance last year.

New conditions, which were described by Alliance official Peter Moscatt as "far from perfect", include:

* agreement by clubs to pay the gap between medical insurance and costs for injuries;

* annual leave at the end of the season;

* recognition of a 12-month season, with payments for a full year for players injured after the first match.

The Australian soccer team have won greatly improved payments through the Australian Soccer Players' Association. Playing before an estimated television audience of 300 million in their October 31, 1-1 draw with Argentina, the Socceroos received $5000 each; previously they were paid as little as $250.

ASPA executive officer Brendan Schwab reports that the players' union is close to finalising amalgamation negotiations with the Alliance.

Writing in the Alliance, Schwab insists that there is a need for the union movement to concern itself with the requirements of professional team athletes. Sport has developed into a multimillion dollar industry in which the interests and welfare of sports workers need greater protection.

From GLW issue 127