User:Schug068/U.S. Women's National Soccer Team discrimination claim

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

Players on the United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) filed a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accusing the United States Soccer Federation of wage discrimination in April 2016.

Despite substantial media pressure and allegations of discrimination and unfairness, the judge in the case ruled against the women players, on the argument that they did not have a valid claim. This case does not apply to pay differences between men's and women's professional soccer leagues.

USWNT

Background

The US Women's National soccer team has become an inspiration to girls around the globe on the basis of their work ethic and talent. The team is on the way to becoming more popular and successful than the men’s league, posing the question, why do these players get paid less than the men? The answer by many has been that the men have more athletic ability; therefore, they deserve more pay compared to the women.

History

US Team on the podium at the FIFA Women's World Cup Final in 2019.

In March 2016, co-captains Carli Lloyd and Becky Sauerbrunn and three players (Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo) on the US National Team were planning on suing US soccer’s governing body for earning less than what the men's team players make. The women believed they made 40% of the male players' earnings, and argued that they also faced worse conditions than the men. Separately, 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. The women's players asserted that they have more success than the men's team; moreover, they get more views per game and are more popular. The women fought back by wearing their jerseys inside-out during warmups before games, so they would not display the team crest. Around $100,000 per year is what the women make, with fewer bonuses compared to the men.

In March 2019, a $66 million lawsuit was filed for discrimination against the unequal pay the women receive. The claim was shut down by the US Federation, who argued that men have “biological differences'' and a men's game “requires a higher level of skill” with “indisputable science.” Rapinoe stated about this response, “We’ve sort of felt that those are some of the undercurrent feelings that they’ve had for a long time, but to see that as the argument, as blatant misogyny and sexism as the argument against us, is really disappointing.” This led to the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro. On May 1, 2020, tge Central District ruled against the team's equal pay claims. The judge also noted that the women were given the opportunity to accept the same contract as the men, and that the women's contract offered substantial benefits that the men's contract excluded, including a base salary, continuing payments to injured players, and severance pay.

Complaints

The main complaints from the players involve 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; however, 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.      

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.

In April 2017, the Players Association and the Federation negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement which may render the players' EEOC complaint moot. As of April 2017, the EEOC had not issued a decision.

In 2019, twenty-eight members of the USWNT filed a gender discrimination lawsuit. Their claims address not only their paychecks but also where they play and how often, how they train, the medical treatment and coaching they receive, and even how they travel to matches. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner in Los Angeles scheduled a trial for September 15 on the players’ remaining claim of discriminatory work conditions. In May 2020, Klausner summarily dismissed the unequal pay portion of the lawsuit.

Reception and Pop Culture

France vs. USA in the FIFA Women's World Cup

While campaigning for the US presidency, 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." Women who are American gold medalists in hockey, Canadian soccer professionals, and WNBA players have also attempted to gain equal benefits and opportunities that are being given to the men. US National Team is still victorious in the battle and have been able to sell t-shirts to help with their battle which lead to apologizes being issued out. When the team won the World Cup in France, the crowd chanted out "Equal pay! equal pay!," which has now become a routine at other women's sporting events around the globe.