23 September 2010

A strike by Serie A players has been postponed. The players' union (AIC) announced earlier this month they would strike on 25 and 26 September in protest against the Italian league, who have not renewed the collective bargaining agreement which expired in June.

However, the Lega Serie A and the AIC met today in Rome to discuss the collective agreement, and ways to avoid the strike. An agreement has been reached on six of the eight points that had been under dispute, but two areas remain to be resolved and the parties will meet again on 30 November. Besides these six subjects, there are two very important issues for the AIC: the obligation for a player to accept a transfer, and the right to train with the first team. The footballers' association has stressed that it does not consider any modification to the old agreement on both issues. 'We continue to talk and have set a deadline at 30 November', AIC president Sergio Campana said. 'The president of the football federation FIGC, Giancarlo Abete, has guaranteed that those two points will not be forced upon the players by the League. These points will remain the same as they are. In case the contrary happens, we will automatically start a strike.' A statement from the Lega Serie A read: "The strike called by the Italian Footballers' Association (AIC) for this weekend has been suspended. "Sergio Campana, president of the union, announced it after the fourth meeting between representatives of the Lega Serie A and that of the AIC regarding the collective bargaining agreement which expired in June." AIC secretary Gianni Grazioli added: "We will continue to negotiate until November 30 because there are still two issues where no agreement has been reached." Initially the football league had written a collective contract without negotiating it with the players. The footballers responded angrily, and wanted to have the eight controversial issues changed.{jcomments on}

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