Equal pay talks end without resolution
Players for the World Cup champion women’s national team say mediation talks with the US Soccer Federation over equal pay are over.
Molly Levinson, who represents the players in matters concerning the dispute, yesterday said the players look forward to a jury trial.
‘‘We entered this week’s mediation with representatives of USSF full of hope,’’ Levinson said. ‘‘Today we must conclude these meetings sorely disappointed in the federation’s determination to perpetuate fundamentally discriminatory workplace conditions and behaviour.’’
US Soccer said it had hoped to reach a resolution, but accused the counsel for the players of ‘‘an aggressive and ultimately unproductive approach’’.
‘‘We value our players, and have continually shown that, by providing them with compensation and support that exceeds any other women’s team in the world,’’ a federation statement said.
The players sued US Soccer in March, charging institutionalised gender discrimination that includes inequitable compensation when compared with their counterparts on the men’s national team. The federation countered that pay and benefits for members of the men’s and women’s teams, bargained by separate unions, can’t be compared and said there was no basis for allegations of illegal conduct.
The two sides agreed to mediate the matter once the Women’s World Cup in France was over. The United States beat the Netherlands to win the title last month, and afterward fans in the crowd chanted ‘‘Equal Pay!’’
Federation president Carlos Cordeiro wrote to US Soccer members in late July claiming the women’s team was paid more overall than the men’s team between 2010 and 2018.
The letter stated that the federation paid out US$34.1 million [NZ$51.4m] in salary and game bonuses to the women between 2010 and 2018 as opposed to US$26.4m [NZ$39.8m] paid to the men. The total did not include the value of benefits received only by the women, like health care, Cordeiro wrote.
The players have disputed the figures, claiming they are misleading.
‘‘It is clear that USSF, including its board of directors and president Carlos Cordeiro, fully intend to continue to compensate women players less than men. They will not succeed,’’ Levinson said yesterday. ‘‘We want all of our fans, sponsors, peers around the world, and women everywhere to know we are undaunted and will eagerly look forward to a jury trial.’’
US Soccer in turn took a swipe at Levinson.
‘‘Despite inflammatory statements from their spokesperson, which are intended to paint our actions inaccurately and unfairly, we are undaunted in our efforts to continue discussions in good faith,’’ the statement said.
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