Aussie-based Girls dealing with pay cut
Published:Thursday | April 2, 2020 | 12:18 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
NATIONAL SENIOR netball team captain Jhaniele Fowler says that she and other Sunshine Girls who play in Suncorp Super Netball in Australia are devastated by the move of organisers to cut their salaries by 70 per cent.
This is because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced the postponement of the championships until June 30.
Fowler, who plays for Perth-based West Coast Fever, is among six Jamaicans who were to compete in the league. Defenders Shamera Sterling and Kadie-Ann Dehaney, and centre Jodi-Ann Ward are staying with Fowler.
The organisers announced last week that all contracted players will have to take two weeks’ leave from their respective teams, starting from Monday, March 30. They will then be placed on active rest for seven hours each week for the three weeks, and have their pay cut by 70 per cent.
AVERAGE SALARY
The average salary for a player in the Australian league is US$67,000 (almost J$9 million) per year, with many on a minimum wage of US $30,000 (J$4 million).
Fowler, who was voted the Most Valuable Player in the league last season, told The Gleaner that they are surprised by the organisers’ decision.
“Obviously, it is something that we didn’t want to happen because 70 per cent is a lot to be taken out of our salaries,” Fowler said. “Especially being in a foreign country and having the majority of our pay slashed is really not ideal.
“It will affect the players straight across the board because, unfortunately, the international players will not be able to get the benefits that the government is giving the Australians here who are being laid off, who are having pay cuts as well. And so, we just have to see how the league supports us with this going forward,” Fowler said.
This 70 per cent pay cut will take effect this coming fortnight, but with four of them now living together, Fowler says it’s easier on their pockets because they have been sharing the bills.
“It is not ideal for some of the other girls here because not everyone is on the same salary, because some persons will be getting way less than I come this fortnight, when we will be getting 30 per cent of our salaries,” she said.
“For now, we should be okay, and the fact that four of us are together, we get to split the bills and stuff. We will see how time progresses and how we will be able to cope.”