US Women stars to appeal equal pay defeat
AFP - Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan said the US Women’s National Team will appeal against defeat in their equal pay lawsuit describing the judge’s ruling in the case as ‘shocking’.
In a widely unexpected decision, Judge Gary Klausner rejected the US Women’s claim of pay discrimination, finding in favour of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
Although the judge said claims of gender discrimination in areas such as travel, housing and medical support could proceed to trial the equal pay part of the lawsuit - the central plank of the women’s case - had been dismissed.
“We were just shocked,” Morgan said. “This decision was out of left field for us. I think for both sides it was very unexpected. We will definitely be appealing and moving forward.”
“If anyone knows anything about the heart of this team, we are fighters and we will continue to fight together for this.”
In dismissing the equal pay claim, Judge Klausner said the case was unwarranted because there was evidence the Women had previously turned down an offer in the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations to be paid along the lines of the US Men’s Team.
However Rapinoe challenged that part of the judge’s decision.
“The Men’s contract was never offered to us and certainly not the same amount of money,” Rapinoe said.
“I think so many women can understand what this feeling is of going into a negotiation, knowing equal pay is not on the table, knowing anywhere close to your male counterparts is not even on the table.”
“If we were under the Men’s contract, we would be making three times more,” Rapinoe said.