U.S. women's national soccer team pay discrimination claim

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Retired footballer Brandi Chastain talking about the importance of equal pay regarding the U.S. women's national soccer team pay discrimination claim in 2019.

Starting in 2016, members of the United States women's national soccer team have engaged in a series of legal actions against the United States Soccer Federation, accusing the organization of unequal treatment and compensation. The fight for equal pay has received widespread media attention, inspired legislative action in the U.S. Senate, and received popular support, including fan chants of "Equal pay" at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup matches in France.[1] A landmark equal pay agreement was reached in February 2022.[2]

2016 complaint[]

In March 2016, five women players (Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, and Becky Sauerbrunn) filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accusing the Federation of systematically paying women players less than their male counterparts in violation of Title VII and the Equal Pay Act.[3][4] In April 2016, Carli Lloyd published an essay in the New York Times entitled "Why I'm Fighting for Equal Pay," which emphasized that the U.S. women's team generates more revenue for the U.S. Soccer Federation, but that the Federation was still unwilling to pay the women comparably to the male players.[5]

Separately, in February 2016, the Women's National Team Players Association filed a complaint in U.S. District court seeking to void an extension of its collective bargaining agreement with the United States Soccer Federation through the end of 2016. On July 3, 2016, the court ruled that the extension was valid and that the Players Association was bound by a no-strike provision in the agreement until December 31, 2016.[6][7]

2019 gender discrimination lawsuit[]

In March 2019, all 28 players on the U.S. women's national soccer team roster filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation in the United States District Court in Los Angeles.[8] The 2019 lawsuit claimed that discrimination by the Federation impacted player compensation, where and how frequently they play, training, medical treatment, coaching, and travel arrangements to matches. This action brought an end to the 2016 Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint, which was never resolved.[4]

On the claims of wage discrimination, the petitioners pointed out that men receive a $5,000 bonus for a loss in a friendly match, while women receive nothing for a loss or a draw. However, when the teams win, the men receive as much as $17,625, but women only receive $1,350. Further, in 2011, when the women placed second in their World Cup, they were awarded $1.8 million, split evenly among the 24 players on the team. The men's team made it only to the round of 16 that year, yet they were awarded $5 million. In 2014, when Germany won the Men's World Cup, the US team was awarded $35 million by FIFA, while the women received 5% of that for their Cup victory in 2015.[8][9][10]

The United States Soccer Federation responded to the complaint in a statement detailing its efforts to promote women's soccer, including its support of the National Women's Soccer League.[11]

In May 2020, U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner dismissed the unequal pay portion of the lawsuit, while allowing the claims of discriminatory work conditions to proceed.[12] Judge Klausner found that the USWT were paid more in total and more per game than the USMT during the contested years. The Judge also noted that the USWT were offered a similar “pay for play” agreement but rejected that offer. In October 2021, Klausner approved a settlement between U.S. Soccer and the women’s team on working conditions. Following that agreement, the players plan to appeal Klausner’s dismissal of their equal pay complaints. Oral arguments in an appeal filed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals are set to begin in early 2022.[13] The U.S. women’s team’s collective bargaining agreement expired at the end of December, 2021, and the U.S. Soccer Federation expressed hoped that a resolution could be reached outside the court system.[14][15]

2022 equal pay agreement[]

On February 22, 2022, U.S. Women's National Team players filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint over inequality in pay and treatment, the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed to a landmark $24 million agreement which will see tens of millions of dollars in back pay owned to female players.[2][16] The terms of settlement also require equal pay for both male and female soccer player for friendlies, tournaments and even the World Cup.[16][17]

Reactions and popular media[]

In 2019, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia introduced a bill that proposed to cut off all federal funding to the men's 2026 FIFA World Cup until the women received equal pay.[18] In 2020, then US presidential candidate Joe Biden called on the team to not "give up this fight," and demand US Soccer "pay now," or "when I'm president, you can go elsewhere for World Cup funding."[19] The fight of the U.S. women's soccer team has inspired movements for equal pay in fields where women are systematically paid less than their male counterparts and reignited a debate over gender disparities in the workplace.[20] Following the 2019 World Cup victory of the U.S. women's team, Senator Kamala Harris said, "As we celebrate the @USWNT today, it's on us to take up their charge and fight for equal pay. Let's flip the script and hold corporations accountable by requiring them to prove they're not engaging in pay discrimination — and fine companies that fail to close their pay gaps."[21]

The story of the U.S. women's national soccer team and their fight for equal pay was the subject of the 2021 documentary film "LFG" directed and produced by Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "The U.S. Women's Soccer Team Struggle For Equal Pay Featured In New 'LFG' Documentary". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  2. ^ a b Hensly-Clancy, Molly (2022-02-22). "U.S. Soccer, USWNT members settle equal pay lawsuit for $24 million". Washington Post. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  3. ^ Chappell, Bill (2016-03-31). "U.S. Women's Soccer Team Members File Federal Equal-Pay Complaint". NPR. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  4. ^ a b "USWNT equal pay lawsuit: Everything you need to know about the Women's World Cup champions' legal fight". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  5. ^ Lloyd, Carli (2016-04-10). "Carli Lloyd: Why I'm Fighting for Equal Pay". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  6. ^ "Judge: US women's soccer team has no right to strike". U.S. News & World Report. June 3, 2016.
  7. ^ Futbol, Planet. "Court rules in favor of U.S. Soccer, USWNT can't strike". Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated.
  8. ^ a b Das, Andrew (2019-03-08). "U.S. Women's Soccer Team Sues U.S. Soccer for Gender Discrimination". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  9. ^ Santhanam, Laura. "Data: How does the U.S. women's soccer team pay compare to the men?". PBS NewsHour. PBS NewsHour. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  10. ^ O'Donnell, Norah. "Team USA members on historic fight for equal pay in women's soccer". CBS News. CNN. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  11. ^ "U.S. Soccer responds to USWNT's wage complaint". Sports Illustrated. March 31, 2016.
  12. ^ "Judge denies immediate appeal request by U.S. women's soccer players in unequal pay case". KTLA. 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  13. ^ "USWNT: Equal pay lawsuit dismissal 'flatly wrong'". ESPN.com. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  14. ^ Das, Andrew (2021-04-12). "U.S. Women's Team Clears Hurdle to Reviving Equal Pay Fight". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  15. ^ "U.S. Soccer reaches settlement with World Cup women's team on work conditions — but not pay". NBC News. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  16. ^ a b Lenthang, Marlene (2022-02-22). "U.S. Soccer and women soccer stars settle equal pay lawsuit for $24 million". NBC News. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  17. ^ Bachman, Rachael (2022-02-22). "U.S. Women's Soccer Players, U.S. Soccer Federation Reach $24 Million Equal Pay Settlement". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  18. ^ "Joe Manchin: No Federal Money For 2026 World Cup Until Women's Team Gets Equal Pay". HuffPost. 2019-07-09. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  19. ^ Cranley, Ellen. "'Pay now': Biden demands US Soccer give its women's national team equal pay or 'go elsewhere for World Cup funding' if he's elected president". Business Insider.
  20. ^ Moritz-Rabson, Daniel (2019-07-10). "It isn't just soccer: U.S. women still only earn $0.79 for every $1 received by men". Newsweek. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  21. ^ Harris, Kamala (July 10, 2019). ""As we celebrate the @USWNT today.." tweet". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-12-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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