Abstract:

The aim of this study is to determine the perceptions of professional football players about unionization. Participation in trade union activities and the formation of union consciousness in professional football players, the role of the union in the solution of football-club disputes constitute the theoretical infrastructure of this study. Interview technique, one of the qualitative research methods was used in the research. Semi-structured interview questions were prepared and interviews were conducted with 44 professional football players selected according to the maximum diversity sampling method. The opinions of professional football players on the functioning, activities and problems of the trade unions were tried to be determined. Professional football league in Turkey, the main ideas collected to determine their thoughts for football unions, have been analyzed in terms of content using in Maxqda. According to the study summary of the research; it is determined that professional football players do not have a positive perception about trade union. In addition to this, it is understood that many football players are not members of the trade unions because of fear of being tagged, participation in the activities organized by trade unions is very low; Based on the results of the research, it may be suggested to create common platforms in trade unionism to include not only football staffs but also other sports employees.

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