Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with Football Federation Australia (FFA) to extend the Socceroos Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) until June 2015.
PFA Chief Executive Adam Vivian made the announcement today following months of negotiations with FFA.
“It was vital to all parties that an agreement was reached before the World Cup to allow the players to focus solely on the task at hand in Brazil and also for the 2015 Asian Cup,” Vivian said.
“Throughout the negotiations the PFA had two key objectives:
- “ensuring a high performance environment exists that maximizes the performance of the team, especially given the enormous travel demands and difficult match conditions involved; and
- building the economic strength of Australian football, as the Socceroos revenues are allocated to other key game objectives by FFA.
“The CBA provides a framework for both of these objectives to be achieved and also ensures the players are remunerated at a level that is fair and appropriate for athletes at the pinnacle of their profession.
“The PFA would like acknowledge the professional and collaborative approach undertaken by FFA throughout these negotiations. Equally we would like to recognise the contribution of the players, through the Socceroos Committee, who played a key role throughout.”
With the game’s three key CBAs – the Socceroos, Matildas and A-League – all now set to expire on June 30, 2015, Vivian said it presented the chance to build a ‘whole of game’ partnership between FFA, the A-League clubs, the players and the PFA.
“The PFA’s objective is to work towards an agreement that not only delivers improved economic viability for the game and the clubs but an enhanced career path for players in terms of remuneration, opportunity, player education, development, wellbeing and retirement programs.”
