Nicole Gonzalez
Tue, 03/01/2022
After a six-year legal battle by U.S. women soccer players, the U.S. Soccer Federation has commited to equal pay for the women’s and men’s national teams at every level of competition, including the World Cup. The settlement agreement, announced last Tuesday, also grants the players $22 million in backpay, plus a $2 million fund to benefit the players, post-career, as well as charitable efforts aimed at growing the sport for women.
The dispute dates back to 2016, when prominent members of the women’s national team filed a discrimination complaint against USSF, alleging they were paid thousands of dollars less than their male counterparts at nearly every level. A second complaint highlighting the women’s superior performance was filed in 2019, as the men’s national team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup while the women’s team won its second consecutive tournament. A judge dismissed the women’s equal pay claims, but the players appealed in July 2021.
While the proposed settlement is contingent upon the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement between the federation and USWNT Players Association, it is a significant win for gender equity in the sport. The parties are currently operating under a memorandum of understanding that expires at the end of March. Once an agreement is finalized, a court will be able to consider the settlement for final approval.
For more information on MSE’s efforts to secure equal pay in the workplace, visit https://mselaborlaw.com/practice-areas/metoo-in-the-workplace. If you believe your employer is enforcing a discriminatory pay policy—or engaged in other unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex, race, or other protected characteristics—please contact us at [email protected].
