Five members of the U.S. women's national soccer team -- Carli Lloyd, Becky Sauerbrunn, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo -- have filed a "federal complaint charging U.S. Soccer with wage discrimination," according to Andrew Das of the N.Y. TIMES. Attorney Jeffrey Kessler said that the players "will contend" that the USWNT is the "driving economic force for U.S. Soccer ... even as its players are paid far less than their counterparts on the men's national team." In their complaint, which was submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the players "plan to ask for an investigation of U.S. Soccer." Citing budget figures released last month by U.S. Soccer, Kessler said that the USWNT "would contend that they earned as little" as 40% of what players on the USMNT earned last year, despite the women's team being the reigning Women's World Cup and Olympic champion. The five players are the only ones to sign the complaint, but they indicated that they "were acting on behalf of the entire women's team, saying they are all employees of U.S. Soccer." Das notes the move will "thrust their team into a debate roiling in several sports, notably professional tennis, about equal pay for men and women." By raising the issue of compensation of the USMNT, the women's players will put U.S. Soccer "in a difficult position." The organization has CBAs with both teams, but the "financial terms differ widely" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/31). USMNT G Tim Howard said, “We support the fact that the women should fight for their rights and fight for what they think is just compensation. We on the men's side have been fighting that battle for a long, long time, and we certainly know what it feels like. We felt underpaid for a long time, and we had to negotiate our way to a settlement” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 3/31).
STATING THEIR CASE: Four of the five players, as well as Kessler, appeared on NBC’s “Today” this morning to explain their stance. NBC’s Matt Lauer noted the USWNT earn less than the male team “despite drawing crowds of similar size and racking up unprecedented achievements.” He said to Lloyd, "This has been simmering for a while. Why does it come to a head now?” She said the "timing is right." Lloyd: "We've proven our worth over the years. Just coming off of a World Cup win, the pay disparity between the men and women is just too large, and we want to continue to fight. The generation of players before us fought, and now it’s our job to keep on fighting.” The following are excerpts from their appearance:
Lauer: “You complained to the U.S. Soccer Federation in the past. What's been their response when you talk about these equal pay issues?”
Solo: “I’ve been on this team now for a decade-and-a-half and I’ve been through numerous CBA negotiations, and honestly not much has changed. We continue to be told we should be grateful just to have the opportunity to play professional soccer and to get paid for doing it. In this day and age, it's about equality, it’s about equal rights, it’s about equal pay, and 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 really do whatever it takes to push for equal pay and equal rights and to be treated with respect.”
Lauer: “The complaint was just mailed yesterday. The U.S. Soccer Federation hasn't had a lot of time to digest it, but they did give us a statement: ‘While we’ve not seen this complaint and can't comment on the specifics of it, we are disappointed about this action. 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.’ Who wants to respond to that?"
Kessler: “We’re sorry they’re disappointed. These women are very disappointed in U.S. Soccer. When they asked for the same treatment as the men, they were told it was irrational. Now that might be a good answer in 1816. It's not an acceptable answer in 2016.”
Lauer: “What about revenues here? Are revenues equal? Because I would imagine an argument could be made if the revenues aren't equal, then the pay’s not equal.”
Kessler: “Last year U.S. Soccer, according to its numbers, made over $16 million from this team. The men's team caused a $2 million loss. The numbers are very obviously in favor of the women.”
Lauer: “What are your options here if the U.S. Soccer Federation says, ‘Sorry, we can't do this at this time.’ Are you willing and prepared to boycott games? Will you strike?”
Morgan: “Every single day we sacrifice just as much as the men, we work just as much. We endure just as much physically and emotionally, and our fans really do appreciate us every day for that. ... We're really asking and demanding now that our federation and our employer really step up and appreciate us as well” ("Today," NBC, 3/31).
