Australian sports journalists are "fighting to become" the first Australian Football League employees to "have an enterprise bargaining agreement," according to Jane Lee of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The AFL set up its in-house media business, AFL Media, in '12, which "writes articles and produces videos on AFL news and
commentary for the league's website, weekly Footy Record magazine and club websites." Most of its 64 editorial staff members -- including sub-editors,
photographers and video producers -- have signed a petition "stating they
want to collectively bargain the terms of their proposed workplace
agreement with the AFL." After failing in "their negotiations with AFL management, the
Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance asked the Fair Work Commission in
Melbourne on Monday to issue a determination to force its hand." The MEAA's Jonathan Kirkwood told the commission the AFL had "refused to bargain with employees, who were entitled to be represented
by a union." While the determination would "not guarantee that a workplace
agreement would ultimately be made, or its scope," Kirkwood said that it
"simply provides a means by which the employer can achieve the result
without industrial action" (SMH, 10/13).
SYDNEY COACH QUESTIONS BAN: In Sydney, Caroline Wilson reported AFL club Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has accused the AFL of "denying the Swans
and their players one of the 'fundamental planks' underpinning both the
rights of footballers and effective club list management." Still stunned at "being effectively banned from trading in
players for the next two seasons, the disillusioned Longmire echoed the
views of his club" when he said, "We've clearly run foul of
someone somewhere." While Longmire said he would "leave the negotiations to his chief
executive Andrew Ireland, it is understood that Sydney's bosses,
including the coach, will seek to front the AFL Commission before the
end of the year in a bid to reverse the ruling" (SMH, 10/13).
