October 24 Thursday 2002
New twist in NZ pay wrangle

WELLINGTON: The pay dispute between New Zealand Cricket and New Zealand Cricket Players' Association has taken a new turn, with players' association demanding funding from NZC over and above their demands for an increase in player salaries. 

"Most international organisations provide funding for their respective player associations, including New Zealand rugby, Australian cricket, rugby, soccer and AFL," Rob Nichol, spokesman for NZCPA, said. 

"It's seen as a healthy partnership and it has to be beneficial for the players." 

The players' association has allegedly demanded a NZ$2.8 million increase of NZC, of which NZ$1.2 million will be devoted to domestic player salaries and another NZ$1.2 million will be devoted to international player salaries. 

A remaining NZ$400,000 is allegedly demanded for running of players association - NZ$100,000 of which is supposedly intended to cover costs of current negotiations. 

Although Nichol frames the demand of NZC funding of players' association as being de rigueur, in traditional trade union terms, notion of employer funding is unacceptable. 

"In terms of the law, registered unions are required to keep an arm's-length distance from the employer, and in terms of ethics it simply wouldn't be seen as appropriate," said Paul Goulter, secretary of New Zealand's Council of Trade Unions. 

The players' association demand of NZ$2.8 million represents a 60 per cent increase in NZC's player wage bill. 

NZC met the demand with offer of NZ$140,000. NZC did supplement their offer with a restructuring of players' wages to increase retainers, but it does little to reconcile difference between demand and offer. 

The two parties will meet again next week to further negotiate the matter.