Maritime Union Australia has long represented the interests of wharfies and feels the AFL is short changing the Freo Dockers lately.
According to MUA, “Wharfie Time” should be at least time and a half (double of Sundays) to reflect the hard work the Dockers do on the field. A source close to the union told The Times,
“If the AFL wants wharfie time they are going to have to pay for it! Without Freo, WA footy stops! Get that through your thick skulls. If the Dockers don’t get fairer conditions with VFL counterparts they’ll pull a go slow, maybe even a strike”
These working conditions include:
- a complete ban on Gary Lyon commentating games,
- Luke Jackson to be put on the protective species list,
- as generous travel schedule as Collingwood,
- double pay for working on the AFL’s WA footy graveyard Sunday arvo timeslot,
- construction of a cabinet,
- a quarter of the help with emerging talent as GWS get.
The AFL has responded with its typical arrogance. Saying it’s unwilling to renegotiate how they view WA footy as Western Australia has already established itself as a footy state and make the AFL plenty of money even if they shaft us with travel & fixtures week in week out. With a source saying,
“Want special treatment? Move to NSW and the AFL will throw money and academies at you as they lick their lips at the thought of another lucrative market, even if it will never happen”
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