“In contrast, we are committed to bargaining in good faith to achieve equal pay and the safest working conditions possible. The proposal that USSF made recently to us does neither,” it added.
A new proposal
In a statement on Tuesday, the federation said it “firmly believes that the best path forward for all involved, and for the future of the sport in the United States, is a single pay structure for both senior national teams.”
“This proposal will ensure that USWNT and USMNT players remain among the highest paid senior national team players in the world, while providing a revenue sharing structure that would allow all parties to begin anew and share collectively in the opportunity that combined investment in the future of U.S. Soccer will deliver over the course of a new CBA,” the statement said.
“Additionally, U.S. Soccer has once again called upon the players and both Players Associations to join the Federation in finding a way to equalize FIFA World Cup prize money between the USMNT and the USWNT. U.S. Soccer will not agree to any collective bargaining agreement that does not take the important step of equalizing FIFA World Cup prize money.”
‘I think we’re moving in the right direction’
US soccer star Alex Morgan, who won the World Cup with her national team in 2019, said the USWNTPA “still need to chat about the statement given by US Soccer.”
“Any commitment to equal pay publicly is good. However, we need to look line by line at what they’re actually providing. If you have equal but it’s not even what we got before or to the value that we are then we still consider that not good enough. We will continue to work with US Soccer moving forward, looking towards equal and fair payment and treatment,” Morgan added, speaking ahead of USWNT’s friendly against Paraguay on Thursday.
She said that as the team’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) ends at the end of the year, they are “in active negotiations right now.”
“We don’t want to start the new year without a new CBA in effect. That’s the No. 1 priority of our PA, of our legal team. Looking at the statements, it’s difficult to say. We want to feel encouraged, and we want to be optimistic. But we have seen a lot of statements before.
“What we really want to do is see what we can do at the negotiation table, to see those statements be put into action in those negotiations. Of course, we’re always hopeful. You have to continue to have hope. We’re seeing great things around the world, most recently with Ireland agreeing to equal pay for their female and male teams. I think we’re moving in the right direction.”
An ongoing dispute
Progress
As the USWNT continues to advocate for equal pay, women’s national soccer organizations elsewhere have seen promising developments.
“This is a great day for Irish football,” Ireland Senior Women’s Team captain Katie McCabe said.
“We have taken a huge step forward with this deal and have shown the world what can be achieved through unity as we offer male and female international players the same opportunities.”
Men’s captain Seamus Coleman added: “On behalf of the Senior Men’s squad, I welcome this news today.
“We are delighted as players to do what we can to ensure that our female international players are treated equally and fairly and we remain fully committed to doing whatever we can to achieve that goal together.”