USWNT stars accuse U.S. Soccer of wage discrimination in EEOC filing

A lot of the comparisons I'm seeing seem to be of the apple-orange variety. Have the courts ruled on whether the memorandum of understanding, which apparently expires at the end of the year and contains a no-strike clause, is binding? US Soccer went to federal court in February seeking that determination. If it's ruled invalid, the players would gain huge leverage ahead of the Olympics and should at least threaten a strike. If the court rules against the players union and the memorandum with a no-strike clause remains in force through the end of 2016, their leverage is reduced considerably. We need a ruling from the federal court in Chicago. That's when everything will fall into place.

 

They probably make more money than their counterparts in Japan, South Korea and Brazil.......I'm thinking a strike or walking out on a medal game against one of those teams would not go over very well. Especially on the world stage. Disrespectful to those teams and could be spun in those countries to look like more selfish American arrogance.

 

Not so sure underpaid professional athletes would object to other underpaid athletes in the same sport fighting for a big raise. If they struck, FIFA and the IOC would go apeshit. If those are your enemies, you're doing something right.

 

Surprised no has suggested that the women's team get down on their knees and thank god that American men's players like Alexei Lalas paved the way.

 

I don't think they'd walk out the day before match. Assuming the memorandum is ruled invalid (a pretty big if), there would be negotiations and fair warning with a strike date set, probably weeks before competition begins. Collective bargaining is the most sensible way for this to reach a conclusion and that would ultimately be their hammer -- reach an agreement on a deal or don't play. The key here is that they'd have to be willing to not play. Public sympathy only helps to the extent it puts pressure on US Soccer.

 

If you believe what has been written and said about '96, players were very willing to boycott the Olympics. That included Mia Hamm, who had millions of dollars on the line.

 

What's the justification for men getting $12.50 more per diem than the women?

 

Their road beef has to eat too, ya know

 

Plus those chicks get free drinks from every guy they meet.

 

Steaks cost more than salads.

 

Pay 'em with scholarships
- NCAA college presidents

 

The board has suggested they stage a walk out of a major TV match like the NBA all-stars in '64......which worked because everyone was in the NBA. I don't think it'll work with the USA women because their opponents aren't likely to be down for the cause.

Their dominance has been much stronger at the Olympic level. They went 16 years without winning a World Cup. If I'm Germany or Brazil and the USA doesn't want to play a World Cup medal match, I'm thinking 'Who the F are you to mess with my game?'