GMB Rugby League Players
Monday 16
th January 2012
BREAKAWAY BODY DOES NOT HAVE RESOURCES
TO PROPERLY REPRESENT RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYERS SAYS GMB
GMB has secured half a million pounds
in compensation on contractual and playing disputes in the last 2
years alone with much of that work done by our union’s employment
experts
GMB, the union which represents over 800 rugby
league players, today, Monday 17th January 2012, made a
statement in response to the launch of 1eague3.
Geoff Burrow, Head of the GMB’s Rugby League
Players’ Association, said GMB is angry and
disappointed the announcement of a breakaway group.
I am accusing those behind it of
trying to create an elitist organization that has no experience, no
skills or any back-up to look after players’
interests.
1eague3 say they want to bring rugby
league players in line with footballers, but this alone shows their
total lack of knowledge and experience, as footballers from all
leagues are members of their union, not just the Premier
League!
And I would question exactly what
players will get for their £10 per month to this breakaway
body.
GMB has put 300 of our rugby
league members through training courses, subjects as diverse as gym
instructors, personal trainers and even cookery so that we equip
players to have a profession to turn to when their playing career
comes to an end. This doesn’t cost them a penny and that’s
truly looking after players’ interests.”
Tim Roache, GMB Regional Secretary added
“GMB has secured half a million pounds in compensation on
contractual and playing disputes in the last 2 years alone. Much of
that work has been done by our union’s employment experts.
How on earth is a breakaway body, with no experience or track
record, going to match that?
Jamie Peacock and Jon Wilkin should be
honest with the players they are trying to recruit and accept they
have no money, no back-up and no structure to look after them and
they will be walking them over a cliff. GMB has asked both Jon and
Jamie to become GMB representatives, especially as they are both
still members, rather than trying to set up a splinter
organisation. All that will do is divide us all and play into
the hands of those who want to get players on the
cheap.”
Despite this launch the GMB’s rugby
playing membership continues to increase, as does the number of
players who are now union representatives.”
End
Contact : Tim Roache, GMB Regional Secretary
on 07961 719 545 or Geoff Boroughs, Head of the GMB’s Rugby
League Players’ Association on 07863 723 565. GMB Press
Office 07921 289880 or 07974 251823.