This week in US Soccer: USWNT get a new CBA
The United States Soccer Federation and the USWNT finally agree on a new labor agreement, and Jermaine Jones is tired of all the haters.
U.S. Soccer and USWNT finally come to terms on a new CBA
After four months of back and forth negotiations, U.S. Soccer and the U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The updated CBA will be in place through 2021. Below is the joint statement issued by both groups.
"“We are pleased to announce that U.S. Soccer and the U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement which will continue to build the women’s program in the U.S, grow the game of soccer worldwide, and improve the professional lives of players on and off the field. We are proud of the hard work and commitment to thoughtful dialogue reflected through this process, and look forward to strengthening our partnership moving forward.”"
Sport Illustrated’s Grant Wahl detailed a few of the terms of the agreement, including a renewed commitment to the NWSL — U.S. Soccer will assist in paying player salaries while the players agreed to continue playing in the league — and increases in compensation and benefits. Also notable was the issue of per diems for national team players: the women will now receive the same amount as the men.
The New York Times provided more specific details on the increase in pay:
"The agreement includes a sizable increase in base pay for the players — more than 30 percent, initially — and improved match bonuses that could double some of their incomes, to $200,000 to $300,000 in any given year…"
This is a big victory for the USWNT, and a great first step in bringing their compensation and benefits more in line with the Men’s National Team. This agreement is the culmination of the USWNT’s fight for equal pay that has been going on much longer than just the four months the new CBA was being negotiated.
Initially, representatives for the Women’s National Team Players Association (WNTPA) demanded completely equal compensation with the men’s side. This led to lawsuits on both sides and a stall in negotiations, but did seem, in retrospect, to be effective in shining a necessary light on this issue. The biggest USWNT stars — Carli Lloyd and Becky Saurebraun, among others — led the charge for the women’s team. But it looked like, for a while, a middle ground would not be reached and a potential strike loomed.
The hiring of Becca Roux as the new executive director by the WNTPA in January, replacing the leadership that was unwilling to budge, seems to have been the turning point in the struggle. The significantly different pay structures in place for the men and women — the women are paid salaries by U.S. Soccer while the men receive per game payment and performance bonuses — were acknowledged and better arguments and demands were presented in light of these facts.
In addition to the deserved increases in pay and lifestyle benefits — e.g. more support for players who are pregnant or seeking to adopt — the new CBA, by running through 2021, also ensures these types of negotiations will not be a distraction during the upcoming World Cup (2019) and Olympics (2020).
This needed to be done, and to be done right, and it was. More progress will surely be made in the coming decade for the USWNT in this arena, but both sides appear to be happy with the new CBA. Now the USWNT can concentrate on beating the rest of the world in soccer.
Extras
The USWNT will take the field in the first of two friendlies against Russia on Thursday night in Frisco, Texas (8 p.m. ET, FS1). It’s the first match since their underwhelming performance in the SheBelieves Cup last month. Some of the poor play can be attributed to U.S. head coach Jill Ellis’ justified decision to try different formations and personnel. She will probably choose to continue experimenting against a Russia side they should throttle regardless of who’s in the lineup. The two sides will meet again on Sunday in Houston (2 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Next: Pep Guardiola, and the art of overthinking
Jermaine Jones is pissed about your — OK, fine, mine as well — negative comments about him when the USMNT lose. He was a guest on ESPN FC’s Max & Herc podcast recently and railed against what he sees as unjust criticism directed specifically at him when the U.S. struggle. The 35-year-old midfielder also stated that he would probably retire from international play after the 2018 World Cup. Love you, JJ.