When women are not paid the same for the same work, they can file a claim for unequal pay. That’s what happened with the U.S. women’s soccer team and two of its star players, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe.
According to new from Feb 22, 2022, the woman were able to reach a settlement with the U.S. Soccer Federation that agrees to pay women and men an equal rate during all tournaments and friendlies. That includes the World Cup.
A landmark settlement for fair pay
This settlement is a landmark settlement because there has long been a discrepancy between what men’s and women’s teams are paid in athletics. This settlement comes years after a lawsuit filed by five of the U.S. Women’s National Team players in which they complained that they were not treated or paid equally to their male counterparts.
The agreement, which was made for $24 million, will back pay many players who were owed money based on their unequal treatment.
This isn’t the only lawsuit facing the U.S. Soccer Federation
The U.S. Soccer Federation also faced another claim against them when the USWNT filed a lawsuit in 2019 that claimed that there was ongoing and institutionalized gender discrimination against women in the sport.
How significant was the disparity in pay?
It has been known for many years that men and women have been paid differently in sports. FIFA awarded $400 million to the men’s teams who went to the 2018 World Cup. Comparatively, the women’s teams were awarded only $30 million.
If you do the same job, you should receive the same pay
This situation is an excellent example of how you should be paid the same for doing the same work. When you have a history of doing good work but are paid much less than men doing the same work with the same or less impressive backgrounds, then you may have an opportunity to pursue a claim and seek fair compensation from your employer.
This news is a major change in sports, so it’s hopeful that more athletic groups and teams will be paid appropriately in the future.
