Early Christmas present for unions - if demands are met

by Mark Chang for PMF News

The news for the Australian Managers Union (AMU) and the European Managers' Alliance (EMA) looks good tonight after positive overtures regarding the issue came from PMF House.

The green light for the recognition both organisations yearn for could be given as early as next week, but on one condition, according to former AMU chairman and now PMF Executive, Cory Skilton. "We (the PMF Board) have had a lot of meetings regarding the issue of managers unions, and feel that we could, in time, and on one condition, come to recognise them."

When asked of the condition, the Australian alluded to the possibility of the two factions combining. "We feel that, at the moment, both organisations are fighting for the same cause, just in different guises. But perhaps by combining the two, and other established unions, into one greater union, we can see them as an official entity within PMF."

Skilton's words were backed up by PMF Liaison Officer Dr. Olivier Cadin, who said that "the AMU and EMA seem to be similar bodies fighting the same cause, a unified body would possibly be sanctioned by the PMF Board, but as it stands there are no possibilities of these Unions being recognised in their current formats."

But will the wants and needs of both unions, which have clashed so often in the past, be met as part of one larger union? "Yes we believe so" said Skilton. "Like Dr. Cadin said, they are similar bodies fighting the same cause, so there's no reason why they couldn't put aside their differences to help themselves."

Skilton confirmed that PMF House would take the application for official recognition "far more seriously" should one union be formed. "We can't have more than one union fighting for the same cause, in the end they would tear each other apart, and that would not be good for the game here in PMF" he said.

AMU chairman Les Murray, the Australian media personality who succeeded Skilton as chairman of the union, was reportedly ecstatic upon hearing the news, while EMA chairman and Chelsea manager Jim McSwigen could not be contacted.

One thing is for certain - the relations between the two organisations would need to improve dramatically if this move is to come to fruition. But with the likes of Murray, Skilton, Newcastle United manager Sigfried Moeri and Everton manager Aussie Jones all wanting the unions to gain official PMF recognition, the steps towards achieving this outcome are surely already established.