Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Top Australian netballers threaten strike action

Australia's world champion netballers are threatening industrial action if pay talks with Netball Australia fail to achieve a satisfactory deal.

The players' union is to meet with Netball Australia tomorrow with players asking for an increase from $250 to $500 a day when on national team duty.

On average, players spend 50 contact days with the Australian team a year, earning about $12,500 which would rise to $25,000.

Netball Australia's offered a 20 per cent pay increase.

The Australian Netball Players Association director John-Paul Blandthorn says playing for the Diamonds and in the trans-Tasman competition earns a player about $43,000 a year.

But Netball Australia chief executive Kate Palmer says seven of the current Diamonds earn more than $125,000 from netball and related activities, with four of those earning over $185,000.

If the Diamonds decide to strike, the move could effect other national teams including New Zealand, with Australia due to play here later this year.

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