Limerick FC players vote in favour of strike action

Limerick FC players have today voted in favour of strike action by a huge majority and the club will be informed of the decision in the coming days.

Limerick players were not paid last month’s wages and only certain players have received money owed since. The club have made a commitment to pay all outstanding monies in the coming days.

The Shannonsiders are due to face Waterford United on July 27th at the Markets Field but as a result of today’s vote, the game will be in doubt. Unfortunately, the club appear unable to guarantee payment to it’s staff every month as this is the second month in a row that payment has been late.

Limerick players met with SIPTU today and as a result of the meeting, become the second club to propose strike action after Bray Wanderers’ decision to do so last week.

SIPTU Sports Sector Organiser Denis Hynes spoke about the Bray situation and stated,

“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.”

Limerick FC have since released a statement in response to the action taken today and are highly critical of the PFAI and the head of the organisation Stephen McGuinness. Part of the statement read;

“Limerick FC wish to apologise to the players and staff at the club for the delay in payment of salaries that were due to be paid on Friday, July 6, 2018. The issue was resolved today (Tuesday, July 17, 2018).The club takes full responsibility for this matter and would like to make it clear that the club is solely responsible for the players’ contracts.

“There has been a lot of questioning of the FAI’s Club Licensing system throughout this period, but, again, the club are the holders of players’ contracts. Before the 2018 season, the club submitted what was a prudent budget – through the Club Licensing process – as it budgeted for an income less than our actual income for the 2017 season. The budget produced showed a breakeven.”

However, the club have cited a drop in attendances at home matches as a major factor in subsequent financial troubles.

“However, our gate receipts and match-night income has been well below the levels achieved over the last number of years. That has resulted in the club taking immediate action to reduce costs overall and the first opportunity to restructure the playing budget came in the July transfer window, where six professional players left the club by mutual agreement”.

The club went on to criticise the PFAI’s handling of the affair and defended their credibility in relation to staff payments in the past.

“We are extremely disappointed by this action (strike action), particularly given that the PFAI have at no time requested a meeting with the club to discuss the situation nor try to find a resolution. The PFAI’s only course of action was to look for an escrow account for players’ salaries and then call for strike action. This was very disappointing and would only further reduce the club’s potential income and ultimately create more issues with payments to their members that remain employed by the club.

“The action of the PFAI and the leadership by Mr McGuinness in their decision-making, during this time, has not being conducive to create a good working environment between players and management.

“It should be noted that since 2009 there has been no occasion for the PFAI to contact Limerick FC regarding non-payment of players’ wages. In the last three seasons alone the club have honoured just over €1 million in players’ salaries and while doing so created on average 45 number jobs per annum in Limerick FC.”