The U.S. women’s national soccer team is "taking its fight for equal pay back to ... the court of public opinion" beginning with an exhibition match this weekend in Chicago, according to Andrew Das of the N.Y. TIMES. Beginning with Saturday's game against South Africa and continuing through the Rio Games, USWNT players plan to "embark on a campaign that they hope will increase the pressure" on the U.S. Soccer Federation to "pay the women compensation equal" to their male counterparts in their next CBA. The players plan to "wear T-shirts with the hashtag slogan 'Equal Play Equal Pay' at media availabilities" ahead the game. The players union also is "creating temporary tattoos with the same phrase that the players plan to wear on the field during their send-off matches." The move comes after five prominent players in March filed a "complaint on behalf of the team with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accusing U.S. Soccer of wage discrimination." USSF Senior Manager of Communications Neil Buethe "declined to comment on the players’ plans, or on whether their planned actions might violate any part" of their CBA related to conduct in or around national team games. USWNT MF Megan Rapinoe "attended three negotiating sessions" with the USSF during an injury layoff and "expressed frustration about a lack of movement 'or even a respectable response' from U.S. Soccer," particularly President Sunil Gulati. Rapinoe: "I’ve been to three meetings, flown six hours across the country and interrupted my rehab to come to New York, where he lives. And he can’t come to one meeting.” Das notes taking the fight into team activities and onto the field "comes with risks for the players." Gulati on Thursday said that while he had "not taken part directly, U.S. Soccer had committed significant resources to the talks." While the USWNT "enjoys broad support among many American soccer fans for its contention that it deserves equal pay, that support is not universal." Also, Olympic officials "will most likely frown on any attempt to bring a private dispute to the Games" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/8).
