- Dec 7, 2001
- 23,290
- 8,203
- AFL Club
- Brisbane Lions
UMPIRES have won the same pay rises as players under a deal to be announced this week.
The AFL has agreed to officials' demands to match the rate of player salary increases over five years.
A submission was prepared last July by the AFL Umpires' Association to link upgrades with the $780 million generated from television rights.
Umpires will receive a 23 per cent jump over the next five years until 2011.
While an average umpire's salary is $55,000-$65,000, it will boost a top umpire's earning capacity to almost $110,000 this season and $125,000 in the final year of the agreement.
Player wages, which average $220,000, have increased about 6 per cent in the past two years.
Association chief executive Bill Deller said it was a satisfying result.
"We're happy with it," Deller said.
"We have reached agreement in principle, so as we understand it now there are just one or two points to clear up, but by and large it's all agreed and it's being written up.
"It's basically pretty much the same as the players -- 7 per cent for the first couple of years and three after that.
"It's taken a long time, with some other things bobbing up, but everything we put in were warranted increases and the league has been supportive."
Deller said the earning capacity of the oft-maligned whistle-blowers had become greater than ever before.
There are 108 field, boundary and goal umpires.
"Potentially it's that ($100,000), but it depends on the number of matches and finals they do," Deller said.
"There are bonuses along the way for achieving certain results. It is possible for the top umpires to earn that amount, but on the other hand, the newer umpires and those inexperienced ones are on a hell of a lot less than that."
Deller said they would certainly be better off under the new deal and that it had been handled very well by both sides and in an amicable way.
"When you talk about percentage increases you're actually talking about where your starting point is, so umpires don't get paid what players do, so you start from a lower base," he said.
"But then again our people work. Most of them don't rely on football for their income. The majority or all are employed otherwise."
Umpires are ranked according to performance, with Brett Allen named All-Australian last year.
Since 2000 the best have been able to earn $100,000-$110,000.
Former umpire Derek Humphery-Smith said umpires should be pleased with the outcome of negotiations.
"It is a good thing assuming there is pay equity," Humphery-Smith said.
"Any mirroring of pay increases is a good thing."
BANISHED Grand Final umpire Darren Goldspink underwent a time trial on Friday morning around Princes Park.
He had to complete the 4kms in less than 15 minutes to return to the roster.
During pre-season he struggled to get the time down and was dropped because of lack of fitness.
Goldspink, 42, has officiated in 359 games.
http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,21985,21521014-11088,00.html
Wow.hey they are kidding right.
The AFL has agreed to officials' demands to match the rate of player salary increases over five years.
A submission was prepared last July by the AFL Umpires' Association to link upgrades with the $780 million generated from television rights.
Umpires will receive a 23 per cent jump over the next five years until 2011.
While an average umpire's salary is $55,000-$65,000, it will boost a top umpire's earning capacity to almost $110,000 this season and $125,000 in the final year of the agreement.
Player wages, which average $220,000, have increased about 6 per cent in the past two years.
Association chief executive Bill Deller said it was a satisfying result.
"We're happy with it," Deller said.
"We have reached agreement in principle, so as we understand it now there are just one or two points to clear up, but by and large it's all agreed and it's being written up.
"It's basically pretty much the same as the players -- 7 per cent for the first couple of years and three after that.
"It's taken a long time, with some other things bobbing up, but everything we put in were warranted increases and the league has been supportive."
Deller said the earning capacity of the oft-maligned whistle-blowers had become greater than ever before.
There are 108 field, boundary and goal umpires.
"Potentially it's that ($100,000), but it depends on the number of matches and finals they do," Deller said.
"There are bonuses along the way for achieving certain results. It is possible for the top umpires to earn that amount, but on the other hand, the newer umpires and those inexperienced ones are on a hell of a lot less than that."
Deller said they would certainly be better off under the new deal and that it had been handled very well by both sides and in an amicable way.
"When you talk about percentage increases you're actually talking about where your starting point is, so umpires don't get paid what players do, so you start from a lower base," he said.
"But then again our people work. Most of them don't rely on football for their income. The majority or all are employed otherwise."
Umpires are ranked according to performance, with Brett Allen named All-Australian last year.
Since 2000 the best have been able to earn $100,000-$110,000.
Former umpire Derek Humphery-Smith said umpires should be pleased with the outcome of negotiations.
"It is a good thing assuming there is pay equity," Humphery-Smith said.
"Any mirroring of pay increases is a good thing."
BANISHED Grand Final umpire Darren Goldspink underwent a time trial on Friday morning around Princes Park.
He had to complete the 4kms in less than 15 minutes to return to the roster.
During pre-season he struggled to get the time down and was dropped because of lack of fitness.
Goldspink, 42, has officiated in 359 games.
http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,21985,21521014-11088,00.html
Wow.hey they are kidding right.
