Advocates for Labor and Progressive Institutions

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Equal Pay Achieved for Women's and Men's Soccer

May 18, 2022

The U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association (USWNTPA) entered into a landmark collective-bargaining agreement with the United States Soccer Federation that guarantees that players on the U.S. Women’s National team will be paid equal to their counterparts on the U.S. Men’s National Team. The CBA, which was ratified by USWNTPA members alongside a corresponding CBA entered into by the USMNT Players’ union, will run through 2028.

 

Under the new CBAs, pay will be equal across the categories of player compensation, including: game appearance fees and performance payments; bonus payments for participation in tournaments, including the World Cup; daily payments for days spent in camp; ticket share; and a first-ever commercial revenue share. The overall economic package ensures that USWNT Players will remain among the highest-paid national team soccer players in the world, men or women. Beyond compensation, the CBA provides for better travel standards; contractual protections to prevent and remedy harassment and improper conduct; first-time contractual provisions protecting Player biometric and performance data; improved staffing requirements at national team camps and matches; improved minimum standards for venue selection and field surfaces; and more predictability in terms of national team scheduling, enabling USWNT Players to better balance the demands of club and country.

Bredhoff & Kaiser represented the USWNTPA throughout this round collective-bargaining negotiations. Bredhoff & Kaiser has represented USWNTPA as labor counsel since 2017.