U.S. women soccer champs demand equal wages, conditions
(Reuters) — Goalie Hope Solo and four other players for the World Cup champion U.S. women's soccer team have filed a federal wage complaint charging they generate more income for the United States Soccer Federation but are paid less than male players.
The athletes, including star scorer Carli Lloyd, claim some of them earn as little as 40% of what men's team players make, lawyer Jeffrey Kessler said on Thursday.
In the complaint to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed on Wednesday, the players asked for an investigation of the federation, the governing body of all forms of soccer in the United States and the women's employer.
U.S. Soccer said in a statement it was disappointed by the complaint, though it had not seen it and could not comment on its specifics.
"We have been a world leader in women's soccer and are proud of the commitment we have made to building the women's game in the United States over the past 30 years," the federation said.
The women's team, which has won three World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals, made at least $16 million for the federation in 2015 while the men's team lost money for the entity, Mr. Kessler said, citing federation financial records.
"The women of the national team are disappointed that they have to resort to legal action to force the USSF — kicking and screaming — to comply with a legal obligation that they have to provide equal pay for equal play," Kessler said.
Defender Becky Sauerbrunn, forward Alex Morgan and midfielder Megan Rapinoe are also parties to the complaint.
The five players are acting on behalf of the entire women's team, Mr. Kessler said.
The complaint is not only about compensation, Ms. Morgan said in a statement from Kessler's law firm. "We want to play in top-notch, grass-only facilities like the U.S. Men's National Team. We want to have equitable and comfortable travel accommodations, and we simply want equal treatment."
