Soccer supremo Peter V’landys calls Rugby League Players Association ‘RACIST’ as NRL pay dispute continues to split the game

[ad_1]

ARL Committee chairman Peter V’landys has launched a scathing attack on the Rugby League Players’ Association, accusing the body of being racist in its approach to payments for Pasifika players’ Test matches.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, V’landys has made his position clear in several meetings with the RLPA as discussions over the ongoing pay dispute between the NRL and the players’ union continue.

In an email V’landys sent to several NRL club bosses and the RLPA, he claimed the union wanted to take money away from players and use it to boost its own funding.

“Let’s be frank here,” read the email, which was published by the Sydney Morning Herald.

“The difference of opinion is that the RLPA wants to take money away from players and use it to provide an approximately 83% increase in funding for the union itself.

ARL Committee Chairman Peter V’landys has launched a scathing attack on the Rugby League Players AssociationV’landys claims the RLPA does not want to pay Pasifika players for representing their country

“Not wanting to pay players from the Pacific Islands when they represent their country, which in itself improves the international game, so it can be used to fund RLPA staff, not only hurts at least 48% of your members, but is incomprehensible.

“For my part, I will never accept this and I will ensure that the money goes to the legitimate people, the players.”

The question of international payments is one of the many facets of the complex impasse of wage disputes.

The NRL has previously suggested that the RLPA has sought to prioritize Kangaroos over Pasikifa players when it comes to payments for international test matches.

The players’ union, meanwhile, has firmly maintained that players taking part in competitions organized by the NRL should receive the same payments for international matches.

RLPA chief executive Clint Newton dismissed V’landys’ claims and insisted the union was willing to reopen discussion on the matter.

We work closely with the Pasifika Nations and have done so for years, which is why our relationship is strong,” he said.

We are transparent, respectful and inclusive. It would be wise for the NRL and the Commission to do the same.

“Our priority is to get back to the table with an industrial relations mediator.”

Earlier this month, NRL players announced this week that they would boycott all matchday media engagements until a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is drafted in the most drastic action taken by the RLPA in its protracted talks with the NRL.

RLPA chief executive Clint Newton dismissed V’landys’ claims and insisted the union was ready to reopen discussion on the matter

Announced by the RLPA at an emergency press conference, the media strike means that all post-match press conferences will be boycotted from July 8 until further notice.

Male and female players will not take part in pre-match, half-time or post-match interviews on match day and have been instructed not to take calls from reporters.

The CBA is an agreement between the NRL, players and clubs, which details the minimum conditions of employment for players as well as important financial arrangements within rugby league.

The ABC also covers a number of factors which are essential to the relationship between the NRL, players and clubs and takes into account the interests of all parties.

[ad_2]