Netball’s ugly pay war may soon reach a ceasefire with players weighing up an interim deal from Netball Australia after more than eight weeks without an income.
The governing body has offered an immediate 11 per cent pay rise and back pay from October 1, which was proposed as part of the previous negotiations but rejected because neither side could agree on an overall revenue share model.
The deal would also mean the Super Netball contract period can begin, with players currently in limbo about next season.
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The Australian Netball Players Association met with the players on Wednesday afternoon to determine a response.
“We have listened to the players and their need for financial certainty right now,” Netball Australia boss Kelly Ryan said.
“This offer we have put forward would allow them to be paid immediately, while we continue negotiations with ANPA on building a financial model for the league.”
However players did not seem thrilled with the proposal with ANPA president Jo Weston tweeting on Wednesday evening: “Where is the revenue share component that the players have been asking for? Only 11% increase to the minimum wage not the entire salary cap.”
The dispute reached a worrying low last weekend when players boycotted the sport’s awards ceremony, and Diamonds players were given legal letters informing them they were required to attend.
Netball legend Liz Ellis responded angrily to the awards night situation.
“My disappointment and embarrassment at not being able to attend turned into anger when I was made aware that current Diamonds players and their advisers were threatened with possible legal action if they did not attend the dinner,” Ellis wrote on Instagram.
“As a former Diamonds captain, I cannot believe that the governing body of the sport I love would treat its Diamonds athletes, who are brilliant role models and ambassadors for netball with such callous disregard.
“These are women who have not been paid in eight weeks. Who are fighting for fair pay and conditions not only for themselves but for the players who come after them.
“Who consider themselves as custodians of the game. And who I suspect would love nothing more than to attend an event where their world-beating heroics of the past twelve months were to be celebrated. Yet who felt so strongly about what they were fighting for, that they were prepared to forgo those celebrations.
“So yet again netball finds itself in the headlines for the wrong reasons – another crisis entirely of the sport’s own making.
“This has happened so often in recent times the question must be asked whether Netball Australia is capable of providing the leadership the sport so desperately needs.
“This question must be asked not just by players, or ex-players like me, but by the whole system.
“And it is a question which needs an immediate answer.”
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