For the first time in their history, NRL officials are threatening to take industrial action on the eve of the finals as their pay war with the NRL escalates.
The Professional Rugby League Match Officials (PRLMO) notified the NRL that it will ballot its members to seek their approval for industrial action, a result of frustrations in negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement.
The industrial action will not affect the upcoming finals series, although they plan to make a stance without disrupting the game or its stakeholders.
“Industrial action is an unfortunate but necessary step to which we must now resort,” PRLMO chairman Silvio Del Vecchio told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“The NRL has simply not made enough progress in its negotiations with us, and there remain significant points of difference which haven’t been resolved after months of discussion."
“While we are reserving the right to take this action, the referees love rugby league, they
respect the fans and the stakeholders of the game, and will not disrupt the coming finals series."
“Over the past five years, the pay and conditions of referees and players has diverged
considerably. In 2018 alone, the salary cap increased by around 30 per cent, and revenue to the game has increased by 50 per cent to $530m, while the pay of referees has grown at only a fraction of these amounts."
“The referees and match officials are simply looking for a fairer consideration.”
The referees believe they have not been given a fair slice of the $2 billion broadcast deal. However their concerns are not solely about money. Leading referee Matt Cecchin revealed to Fairfax Media that he is quitting NRL at the end of season due to constant criticism and receiving death threats.
A ballot of the unions members closes 20 days after approval from the Fair Work Commission. It is understood the action could include turning up to training late or not at all, wearing non-approved clothing items, such as caps, armbands and T-shirts that could carry the unions message of a fair go to head office.
The Rugby League Players' Association used similar tactics in its pay dispute with the NRL, with players wearing RLPA-branded caps and tape.
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