CTU backs Players' Association
“The Players Association is facing a Cricket Association strategy to destroy it and the CTU will back them as we would
any other union fighting for its life,” Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today.
“I strongly endorse Rob Nichol’s comment that our top young cricketers have the same rights as employees to form a union
and exercise their rights, including the right to strike, under the Employment Relations Act,” he said.
“The Players’ Association is a union registered under the Employment Relations Act and the good faith requirements apply
to this negotiation as they do to any collective bargaining under the Act.
“Suddenly the cream of our young cricketing talent is being vilified by the Cricket Council and sports commentators,” he
said.
“What has happened to the corporate campaigners call to celebrate our young talent and pay them well?
“Why aren’t the corporate sponsors putting the money where the mouths are?
“The Players’ Association members are exercising rights guaranteed by international law, and by our own domestic law.”
Ross Wilson said the CTU was not going to allow the young cricketers to be isolated and would be calling on its 300,000
union members, and their families, to stand by them.
“The Cricket Council should act in good faith and accept Rob Nichol’s call to go back into mediation,” Ross Wilson said.
“This dispute can only be resolved around the bargaining table. The Council has acted in breach of the Law in
unilaterally terminating negotiations and refusing to mediate.”