The US Soccer Federation’s court documents were filed Monday in the gender discrimination lawsuit filed by the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) last year.
The lawsuit lists the 28 members of the women’s national team as plaintiffs, including midfielder Megan Rapinoe, striker Alex Morgan, and midfielder Carli Lloyd. The USWNT, who have won four world cups and four Olympics gold medals, allege that U.S. Soccer is in violation of the Equal Pay Act by paying the women’s team significantly less than the men’s team for the same work and despite their success. The Men’s National Team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and the furthest they have advanced was to the quarter finals back in 2002. The USWNT is seeking over $66 million in back pay and damages.
The USWNT allege that gender discrimination is at the root of the disparity in pay “for substantially equal work and by denying them at least equal playing, training, and travel conditions; equal promotion of their games; equal support and development for their games; and other terms and conditions of employment equal to the MNT.”
Attorneys for the USSF assert that more skill, effort, and responsibility is required from the men’s team.”… A reasonable juror could conclude that the job MNT player requires materially different skill and more responsibility than Plaintiff’s job does, while also taking place under materially different working conditions,” according to the court filing.
Many of US Soccer’s sponsors disagree with the sentiment. Coca- Cola called their statement “unacceptable and offensive.” Procter & Gamble donated $529,000 to help close the pay gap and through their brand Secret, took out a full page spread in the NY Times that said “We urge the US Soccer Federation to be a beacon of strength and end gender pay inequality once and for all.” LUNA Bar also awarded each of the 23 women on the US roster $31,250, the amount it would take to cover the disparity.
Court proceedings will begin May 5th.
