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US women's soccer team accuses federation of wage discrimination US women's soccer team accuses federation of wage discrimination
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Five members of the US women’s soccer team have filed a federal wage-discrimination complaint against US Soccer after it was revealed the World Cup winners were paid four times less than their male counterparts last year.Five members of the US women’s soccer team have filed a federal wage-discrimination complaint against US Soccer after it was revealed the World Cup winners were paid four times less than their male counterparts last year.
The action – submitted Wednesday by Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn and Hope Solo on behalf of the entire team – references figures from the federation’s 2015 financial report, which showed the reigning World Cup and Olympic champions received far less money than the men’s team – despite generating nearly $20m more in revenue.The action – submitted Wednesday by Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn and Hope Solo on behalf of the entire team – references figures from the federation’s 2015 financial report, which showed the reigning World Cup and Olympic champions received far less money than the men’s team – despite generating nearly $20m more in revenue.
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“Recently, it has become clear that the federation has no intention of providing us equal pay for equal work,” Rapinoe said in a press release announcing the filing.“Recently, it has become clear that the federation has no intention of providing us equal pay for equal work,” Rapinoe said in a press release announcing the filing.
“In this day and age, it’s about equality,” Solo said Thursday in an appearance on NBC’s Today show. “It’s about equal rights. It’s about equal pay. We’re pushing for that. We believe now the time is right because we believe it’s our responsibility for women’s sports and specifically for women’s soccer to do whatever it takes to push for equal pay and equal rights. And to be treated with respect.”“In this day and age, it’s about equality,” Solo said Thursday in an appearance on NBC’s Today show. “It’s about equal rights. It’s about equal pay. We’re pushing for that. We believe now the time is right because we believe it’s our responsibility for women’s sports and specifically for women’s soccer to do whatever it takes to push for equal pay and equal rights. And to be treated with respect.”
“I’ve been on this team for a decade and a half, and I’ve been through numerous CBA negotiations, and honestly, not much has changed,” Solo said. “We continue to be told we should be grateful just to have the opportunity to play professional soccer, to get paid for doing it.“I’ve been on this team for a decade and a half, and I’ve been through numerous CBA negotiations, and honestly, not much has changed,” Solo said. “We continue to be told we should be grateful just to have the opportunity to play professional soccer, to get paid for doing it.
Jeffrey Kessler, the players’ lawyer, described US Soccer’s salary structure as “unfair” and “discriminatory”. Jeffrey Kessler, the players’ lawyer, described US Soccer’s salary structure as “unfair” and “discriminatory”. He said the women’s team has been shortchanged on everything from bonuses and appearance fees to per diems.
“In early January, the Women’s National Team Players Association submitted a reasonable proposal for a new CBA that had equal pay for equal work as its guiding principal,” he said. “US Soccer responded by suing the players in an effort to keep in place the discriminatory and unfair treatment they have endured for years.” “This is the strongest case of discrimination against women athletes in violation of law that I have ever seen,” Kessler said. “In early January, the Women’s National Team Players Association submitted a reasonable proposal for a new CBA that had equal pay for equal work as its guiding principal,” he said. “US Soccer responded by suing the players in an effort to keep in place the discriminatory and unfair treatment they have endured for years.”
The federation said in a statement that it had not seen the complaint and couldn’t address specifics.The federation said in a statement that it had not seen the complaint and couldn’t address specifics.
“We are disappointed about this action,” a spokesman for the governing body said. “We have been a world leader in women’s soccer and are proud of the commitment we have made to building the women’s game in the United States over the past 30 years.”“We are disappointed about this action,” a spokesman for the governing body said. “We have been a world leader in women’s soccer and are proud of the commitment we have made to building the women’s game in the United States over the past 30 years.”