A SIPTU representative will meet with the management of Bray Wanderers FC this evening to discuss the ongoing pay dispute at the club.
The players at Bray Wanderers voted in favour of strike action last week as a result of the club’s inability to pay their wages since the 25th of May, as well the players having to pay for their own medical treatment in that time.
Yesterday, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) announced that they would be imposing sanctions on the club due to their failure to pay the players by an agreed upon deadline of 5pm yesterday evening.
SIPTU revealed today that they would be meeting with senior management of Bray Wanderers to discuss the ongoing problems at the club.
SIPTU Sport Sector Organiser, Denis Hynes, said: “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.”
The news comes a few hours after the players at Limerick FC had balloted in favour of strike action over a similar pay dispute.
This is despite a statement from the FAI yesterday stating that management at Limerick had come to an arrangement to ensure the payment of monies owed to the players.
“Following meetings with the FAI and the club over recent weeks, Limerick FC have this evening confirmed a resolution whereby the club’s players will receive monies owed to them by Tuesday (July 17).
“The FAI will continue to work closely with the club to monitor their financial situation.”
