The Suncorp Super Netball league has reached a new deal with the Australian Netball Players' Association on pay reductions due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The competition announced that player pay reductions will be capped at 50% until May 31 with its international athletes to be supported on the same scale as the Australians despite them not being eligible for government benefits.
Players earning below $78,000 will be paid at least the $1500 per fortnight JobKeeper payment plus superannuation until May 31, while athletes earning over that amount will cop a 50% reduction to their current contract.
The new pay deal comes after an initial agreement where players were forced to take a two-week break from March 30 and upon returning from leave, were required to reduce their training schedules to just seven hours per week at 30% pay.
Suncorp Super Netball CEO Chris Symington released a statement confirming the two parties had worked efficiently on a new agreement.
"It really is a credit to our sport how well all parties have approached these discussions. It's not an easy time for anyone and I'm proud of our clubs' and playing group's maturity and willingness to ensure the league will survive and bounce back strong," the statement read.
"This player payment model, made possible by the Morrison Government JobKeeper package, will see all athletes considerably better off than what they are within the current COVID-19-impacted payment structure, and further discussions with the clubs and ANPA will continue to take place as the COVID-19 situation progresses.
"Our decisions have been consistently guided by the health and safety of the players, staff and fans and this will remain the case until we decide when competition can resume. We hope by the end of May, we will have some indication of how when the 2020 season might be able to take place."
Kathryn Harby-Williams, CEO of Australian Netball Players' Association, declared both parties locked in the new deal on good terms.
"The ANPA is pleased to have locked in arrangements through to the end of May to provide certainty to players in a world full of uncertainty," she said.
"Whilst the environment remains extremely difficult for our athletes, they continue to be considerate of the circumstances which confront our sport and will continue to play their role to help it get through these difficult times."
from WWOS http://wwos.nine.com.au/netball/super-netball-players-agree-to-new-pay-deal/70ddbfb2-d340-4fc9-a68b-594df82076af
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