Rapinoe refuses to give up after bid for equal pay rejected
Megan Rapinoe, co-captain of United States Women, has vowed she will never give up the battle for equality after a federal judge threw out her team’s claim for equal pay with their male counterparts.
Rapinoe and her team-mates were left “shocked” when judge Gary Klausner ruled the pay case did not warrant a trial, though their allegation of discriminatory working conditions will go to court next month. Rapinoe responded by tweeting: “We will never stop fighting for equality.”
In March 2019, the World Cup holders sued US Soccer, claiming they had not been paid the same, under collective bargaining agreement, as the male players received through their labour deal. Invoking the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, they demanded more than $66million (£52.8million) in back pay. US Soccer argued the women made more than the men, overall and by game average, while the women claimed they should have the same bonus structure. The dispute took an unsavoury turn when a submission from lawyers of US Soccer claimed playing for its men’s team “requires a higher level of skill based on speed and strength”. The document led to the resignation of Carlos Cordeiro as US Soccer president. On Friday, Klausner allowed the players’ case for unfair treatment in travel, housing and medical support to go to trial, which is set for June 16 in Los Angeles. But he threw out the Equal Pay Act allegations, writing that “the team rejected an offer to be paid under the same pay-toplay structure as the men, and they were willing to forgo higher bonuses for benefits”.
The players intend to appeal, which could delay the trial into next year or later.