Pay Raise Must be Tied to Productivity

Sat, Mar 29, '03 by C. MALCOLM GRANT

Collective bargaining is a process whereby negotiations are held between an employer (e.g. WICB) and a body representing the employees (e.g. WIPA). The ultimate aim of such bilateral negotiations is a legally binding contract outlining the terms and conditions of employment ? inclusive of basic wages, production incentives, pension, health benefits, hours of work, working conditions, etc.

While the players do have a right to be duly compensated for their services to West Indies cricket, both at the regional and international levels, commonsense must prevail. A cursory look around the region should enlighten the players to the fact that the West Indies is not one of the more affluent regions of the world. By extension the WICB cannot afford the sky-scraping salaries seen in the NBA, NFL, MLB or NHL.

The WICB has reportedly earmarked $250,000 US to cover the 2003 cricket season?s first class cricketer?s salaries. After applying basic arithmetical principles one can deduce that each of our first-class cricketers could expect to earn on average $2,404 US for their entire first class season. While admittedly this is a quite a meager sum when compared to sportsmen in other sports, however, I do believe that any increase in our first-class cricketer?s salary must be intimately tied to their productivity.

I do believe that the time is ripe for an incentive bonus plan to be laid on the table, such a plan could represent a win-win situation for both sides and I do earnestly believe with a little effort, lots of patience and some element of sensitivity that both the WICB and the West Indies first-class players have the ability to arrive at an amicable solution.

The incentive bonus plan presented below is by no means meant to be exhaustive, as a matter of fact it is only meant to provide a basic framework that both the WICB and the West Indies players can use to build on.

1. GATE RECEIPTS -- It seems as though first class cricket attendance is at an all time low. While there are a number of possible explanations for such it cannot be denied that defensive cricket, less than enthusiastic on-the-field performances by the cricketers, poorly prepared pitches, etc. have all contributed to this deplorable situation. There is a realistic possibility that with more exciting cricket we could well see an improvement in crowd attendance at the regional first class level.

I?ll suggest that gate fees be split with the cricketers; obviously the mechanics of such must be worked out between the WICB and the West Indies first class players.

2. TV RIGHTS -- While the WICB has been able to sell the TV rights of West Indies test cricket, I have my doubt that any attempt has ever been made to sell West Indies? first class cricket to the rest of the world.

This is not an impossibility; we can first and foremost consider selling the TV rights to countries whose first class cricketers are involved in the regional first class cricket competition. For example India is a cricket-crazed country. Why couldn?t we sell the TV broad cast right of the West Indies first class season to India this year considering that India A was one of the competing teams. Of course it is too late to do such this year but we have to keep such a plan in mind for future first class seasons.

The details of the West Indies first class players? split re TV right would have to be worked out between the players and the board.

3. TEAM CASH INCENTIVES -- CARIB BEER CUP -- Note well, I?m not privy to the quantum of Carib Beer?s sponsorship of the West Indies first class season; hence, the figures presented below are only intended to be an estimate and would have to be adjusted to reflect Carib Beers outlay for the region?s first-class season.

Apart from the finals there will be no bonuses paid for draws.
For each match won in the preliminary rounds each of the 13 players of the team will be entitled to an equal share $1,000 US.
For each match won in the semi-finals each of the 13 players of the team will be entitled to an equal share $2,500 US.
A total of $6,500 US will be up for grabs in the final ? the winning 13 will get $4,000 US, the losing 13 $2,500 US. In the event of a draw the side getting first innings will get $3,000 US while the team losing on first innings will get $1,500 US. In the event of a drawn finals match $2,000 US will be docked from the total prize money.

Carib Beer would be encouraged to cover all of team cash incentive bonuses.

4. INDIVIDUAL CASH INCENTIVES - CARIB BEER CUP

For the batsmen the following scores will result in the listed bonuses:

(a) 50 ? 99 runs-> $150 US
(b) 100 ? 199 runs-> $350 US
(c) 200 runs ->$500 US
(d) Highest score in the competition for the season (NB: In the event where the highest runs scored in a match is even the batsman with the better strike-rate will be the winner) - $1,000 US

For the bowlers the following bowling performances will result in the listed bonuses:

(a) 3 ? 4 wickets/ innings -> $150 US
(b) 5- 7 wickets/ innings -> $350 US
(c) 8 or more wickets/ innings -> $500 US
(d) More than 10 wickets in a match -> $750 US (e) The bowler getting the greatest number of wickets in a Carib Beer Cup match (NB: In cases where the number of wickets are even the bowler with the better average will be the winner) -> $1,000 US

Fielding incentives:

(a) Wicketkeeper with 5 or more dismissals in an innings -> $500
(b) Wicketkeeper with 7 or more dismissals in a match -> $750
(c) Wicketkeeper with the most dismissals in a match over the entire season -> $1,000 US
(d) Fielder credited with more than 4 or more dismissals in an innings (i.e. run-outs and catches) ->$500
(e) Fielder credited with 7 or more dismissals in a match (i.e. run-outs and catches) ->$750
(f)The fielder with the greatest number of dismissals in a match over the entire season (NB: In cases where the number of dismissals are even the pot will be shared) -> $1,000 US

The following players will be given a stipend of $750 US per month until the end of the following first class season.

(a) Top 5 regional batsmen based on the aggregate of the runs scored
(b) Top 5 regional bowlers based on the aggregate of wickets taken
(c) Top 2 regional wicketkeepers based on the aggregate number of dismissals
(d) Top regional fielder based on the aggregated number of credited dismissals (Where there is a tie the bonus will be split)

There should be no rule preventing a single player from walking away with a salary of $2,250 US per month, once he has earned his fee based on his respective performances.

I?ve estimated that this entire program would cost the WICB an additional $170,000 US per year. There is no good reason why sponsorship cannot be found to cover such; the players receiving the bonuses would be obligated to appear on behalf of the sponsors for the period of time that they are in receipt of their monthly bonus.

5. DISINCENTIVES This is likely to be the most controversial area to be covered in the collective bargaining process. The sole purpose of a disincentive is to discourage a player or team from a particular action that is going to reflect badly on the game of cricket from the fan?s perspective. It is not my intention to cover such issues as match fixing, performance enhancing drugs, criminal convictions etc below.

(a) Dropped catches ? Dropping more than 2 or more catches in an innings or 3 or more catches in a match will result in the loss of 50% of the player?s match fee and the docking of the player?s entire incentive bonus for the match in question.

Ducks - One duck in an innings (For all batsmen batting between number 1 and number 7) will result in the loss of 20% of the player?s match fee and with a double duck the batsman will lose 50% their match fee and the player?s entire incentive bonus for the match in question.

Ill-discipline ? The WICB and the West Indies players? representative will have to work out the particulars for this area.

Miscellaneous ? There is no harm in the WICB approaching potential sponsors throughout the Caribbean for additional incentives ? e.g. Airlines (Free plane tickets), Hotels/ Tourist Boards (Vacations for two), Car companies, Sporting gear/ equipment companies, club membership, gym membership, etc.

It must be noted that in today?s corporate world, companies the world-over are increasingly replacing guaranteed salary and bonus policies in favor of an assortment of incentive bonuses, predominantly in line with pay-for-performance principles.

West Indies? cricketers must continue to be rewarded, with a basic match fee, for gaining selection to their respective territorial teams; however, within the proximate future each individual cricketer must be duly compensated for his exploits on the cricket field. Hence, I beseech the WICB and WIPA to urgently formulate a workable incentive bonus plan for the inter-regional first-class matches ? i.e. the Carib Beer Cup. Such a plan must be central to the ongoing collective bargaining process.

* This proposal was submitted by C. Malcolm Grant, a West Indies cricket fan based in Christ Church, Barbados.

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