NEW YORK: The US Soccer Federation reached a settlement Tuesday on working conditions with their women’s football team in a gender-discrimination lawsuit filed by the World Cup champions. But on the critical point of equal pay, it is still under negotiation.
USWNT (United States Women’s National Team) spokesperson Molly Levinson said in a statement the team does plan to file an appeal to the May 1 decision to dismiss the claims of unequal pay.
“We are pleased that the USWNT Players have fought for — and achieved — long overdue equal working conditions,” she said. “We remain as committed as ever to achieve the equal pay that we legally deserve,” Levinson stated. “…our focus is on the future and ensuring we leave the game a better place for the next generation of women who will play for this team and this country.”
The US women’s national team has been fighting for equal pay and treatment in court since March 2019. The team’s 2019 lawsuit sought $66 million under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. USWNT accused US Soccer of discriminating against them in how much money the Federation spent on the team’s airfare, hotel accommodations, medical services and training.
As part of Tuesday’s proposed settlement, US Soccer has agreed to implement policies to improve the USWNT’s working conditions, specifically in regards to hotel accommodations, staffing, venues and travel. The settlement will avoid a trial on these four issues, according to CBS Sports.
The settlement does not address the women’s compensation concerns, but US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement, “We now intend to file our appeal to the Court’s decision which does not account for the central fact in this case that women players have been paid at lesser rates than men who do the same job.”
“We remain as committed as ever to our work to achieve the equal pay that we legally deserve” Cone added. “Our focus is on the future and ensuring we leave the game a better place for the next generation of women who will play for this team and this country.”
“As a former USWNT player, I can promise you that I am committed to equality between the USWNT and USMNT,” Cone said. “My goal is, and has always been, to come to a resolution on all equal play matters and inspire a new era of collaboration, partnership and trust between the USWNT and the Federation.”
Cone also said she believes the settlement “will serve as a springboard for continued progress,” and that she hopes it will result in the women’s team accepting U.S. Soccer’s offer to discuss contract options.
“We want to work with the USWNT on growing women’s soccer here in the United States and across the globe. Part of this is encouraging FIFA to invest equally in the men’s and women’s game, including increasing the World Cup prize money,” Cone said. “I will lend my voice and efforts to making this happen not only for the USWNT, but for all women’s national team players and everyone who believes in the women’s game throughout the world.”
