Harris allies point fingers at Biden for election defeat    Trump victory 'major setback' to climate action    Australia plans social media ban for under-16s    German coalition collapses after Scholz fires key minister    Liam Payne's body to be flown back to the UK    HRT does not impact life expectancy — UK health body    Neymar suffers muscle tear, out for 4-6 weeks    Suspect arrested for banking fraud totaling SR493 million as Nazaha pursues corruption charges    Arab leaders and heads of state congratulate US President-elect Donald Trump    Crown Prince, Pakistan Army Chief discuss ways to enhance military cooperation    Crown Prince aspires to strengthen strategic US-Saudi ties in call with Trump    Crown Prince hails Saudi medical team that performed world's first fully robotic heart transplant    Heavy Equipment and Truck Show to spotlight Tata Motors' cutting-edge mobility solutions    IKEA Alsulaiman opens Madinah store as part of an ambitious expansion plan in the Kingdom    Prince Badr signs MoUs with Al-Qasabi and Al-Falih to empower entrepreneurs and boost investments in cultural sector    Quality of life of Madinah residents and enriching visitor experience highlighted in Cairo event    Al Nassr secures 5-1 victory over Al Ain to edge closer to knockout stage    Top climber falls to death after rare Himalayan feat    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Women accuse US soccer federation of wage discrimination
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 01 - 04 - 2016

Five stars from the World Cup-winning US women's national team have accused the US Soccer Federation of wage discrimination in an action filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn and Hope Solo maintain in the EEOC filing that they are paid nearly four times less than their male counterparts on the US men's national team, based on US Soccer's 2015 financial report. The filing was announced Thursday in a statement from the law firm representing the players.
"The numbers speak for themselves," Solo said in the statement. "We are the best in the world, have three World Cup Championships, four Olympic Championships, and the USMNT get paid more just to show up than we get paid to win major championships."
The union representing the players is currently involved in a legal dispute with US Soccer over the terms of their collective bargaining agreement. The federation filed a lawsuit this year seeking to clarify that its contract with the US Women's National Soccer Team Players Association runs through the Rio Olympics until Dec. 31. The union maintains the memorandum of understanding agreed to in March 2013 can be terminated at any time. That case is pending.
Attorney Jeffrey Kessler, one of the attorneys representing the players, claimed that the tenor of the negotiations over the CBA created the need for the women to act in hopes of ending what they say is the "discriminatory and unfair treatment" they have endured for years.
"The reality is that this team is more valuable to the USSF than the men's team has been. That's what the facts show," Kessler said on a conference call with reporters. "And they would be justified in asking for more than the men are receiving. But the first step that they are seeking is equal treatment. That should be an easy step for the USSF to take."
US Soccer issued a statement saying it had not seen this complaint and couldn't comment on specifics, but added it is "disappointed" with the action.
"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 statement said.
The top players on the women's team are paid about $72,000 a year by US Soccer, along with bonuses, to play in a minimum of 20 exhibitions per year — a salary far less than the men, the complaint says. And unlike the men, they are awarded bonuses only if they win those matches, it says.
The players have a potential to earn $99,000 if they win all 20 exhibitions, while their male counterparts would earn $263,320 for the same feat, the document claims.
Citing another example of disparity, the complaint says that the women are paid $30,000 each for making the World Cup team, while the men are paid $68,750.
The US women won the World Cup last year in Canada with a 5-2 victory in the final against Japan. The team earned $2 million for winning the tournament, according to documents. The US men's team conversely earned $9 million the year before at the World Cup in Brazil after going 1-2-1 and losing in the round of 16.
The success of the women's national team means the women also participate in more games, practices, events and other appearances than the male players.
"There are no legitimate non-discriminatory reasons for this gross disparity of wages, nor can it be explained away by any bona fide seniority, merit or incentive system or any other factor other than sex," said the complaint.
The federation pays the men and women equally for qualifying for the Olympics and making the roster for the event.
The EEOC investigates claims of discrimination on merit. There is no timetable for resolution of the matter. Federal law makes it illegal to discriminate against an employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetic information.
"I think that we've proven our worth over the years. Just coming off of a World Cup win, the pay disparity between the men and women is just too large. And we want to continue to fight," Lloyd said on NBC's "Today" show.
Many players on the national team have become increasingly vocal about gender equity in the sport, something that came to light in advance of last year's World Cup. A group of players led by Abby Wambach filed a complaint in Canada about the artificial turf playing surface, noting the men's World Cup is played on natural grass.
"This is a fight that we are going to have to continue to fight from here on forward," Solo said. "I don't see it getting any easier, but it is something we are committed to. And it's not just in the sports world, it's everywhere you look."
The US women, who have already qualified for this summer's Olympics in Brazil, are currently in Florida training for a pair of exhibition games against Colombia.


Clic here to read the story from its source.