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Serie A strike nears end

Comment: 0 September 5th, 2011 by: admin

The ongoing Serie A players strike that has hampered the opening of the Italian football season is set to come to an end.

According to a statement from the Italian Players Association (AIC), a series of talks between the players union and the Italian league has come to a collective bargaining contract scheduled to be signed on Monday.

‘The contract will be signed either late morning or early afternoon on Monday September 5,’ and AIC spokesman told reporters.  ‘The only thing missing are small technical details.’

Previous failed attempts of the two sides two reach a consensus had resulted in the postponement of opening matches scheduled for August 27 and 28.  The signing of the contract on Monday and the strike’s consequential end will see the Serie A’s first games during the beginning of the weekend.

The AIC source stated that the remainder of the process only involves a brief review, followed by a finalisation of the overall terms.

The conflict between the two sides was rooted in a number terms that (a) forced unwanted players to train separate from the first team, and (b) a ‘solidarity tax’ requirement from players with monthly salaries over €90,000.

Prior to the agreement, last week saw the Italian league extending an olive branch to the players union in the form of a temporary agreement extending until the close of the 2011-2012 campaign.  The agreement was created in the hopes of successfully averting any further strike action.

‘The text includes six points that were already agreed during our previous negotiations,’ Lega Serie A president Maurizio Beretta had said.  ‘Regarding article seven, once the document is signed, we will meet with AIC for 15 days, and if no agreement is reached, [Italian Football Federation president Giancarlo] Abete will have the final say.’

Beretta had continued, pinning fault for any strike action after the temporary agreement on AIC president Damiano Tommasi.

Asked by reporters earlier last week, Tommasi had stated that overall the aim is to return to the field and resume the games.

‘The players are disappointed not to be playing but it’s not down to a question of finance or because of a whim,’ he had told reporters.  ‘For professionals it’s just right to begin a season with a signed collective agreement.’

Should the current proceedings go as planned, the Serie A season will see its opening matches at this week’s end, the first being a match on September 9 (Friday) between Milan and Lazio.

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