Skip to main content

U.S. Soccer Federation Moves For Summary Judgment in Equal Pay Case


At the end of February, the U.S. Soccer Federation moved for summary judgment in response to the equal pay case filed by about 50 players from the women's national soccer team.  (For those unaware of the legal proceedings, a motion for summary judgment is a pretrial matter that seeks to have judgment awarded to the claimant/s or have the case dismissed, which is what this motion seeks to do.)

Readers will likely recall that the lawsuit came about after the players claimed they were paid less than their male counterparts, on the unlawful basis of their gender.  After attempts to reach a settlement fell apart, litigation began to ramp up.  The filing of this motion for summary judgment is the next phase of this case inching closer to trial.

As for the U.S. Soccer Federation's motion itself, it is claimed that any alleged pay disparity between the male and female soccer players on the U.S. National Team is a result of the players' union.  The motion argues that during contract negotiations, the union put child care and salary guarantees ahead of potential bonus money.  The argument follows that because the players' union prioritized different matters, no valid equal pay claim exists because any pay disparity is a result of a negotiation and compromise during contract negotiations.

No response has yet been filed by the players, but I would expect one in the coming weeks.  While I question whether the motion for summary judgment would actually be granted, there might be some merit to the U.S. Soccer Federation's argument here, if true.


For a copy of the U.S. Soccer Federation's motion for summary judgment:  https://static.reuters.com/resources/media/editorial/20200224/morganvussoccer--soccerSJmotion.pdf

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NLRB: Discussion Among Employees About Tip Pooling is Protected Concerted Activity

  This Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board’s Associate General Counsel, Jayme Sophir, addressed whether employees which discussed and complained about tip pooling at work constituted protected concerted activity. In relevant part, an employer in New York operated a chain of steakhouses.  While tip pooling was in place at these steakhouses, some of the employees objected to it on the grounds that it was not transparent and improperly divided tips among the workers.  Employees were told not to complain or talk to each other about the tip pool and were told that doing so would endanger their jobs.  Despite the employer later attempting to provide some clarity as to how the tips were being divided, rancor still existed among some employees.  At one point, the employees were told by a general manager that some employees that had been talking about the tip pool were “cleared out” and the employer would continue to do so. In the Advice Memorandum,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking: Labor Secretary Rumored to Be Leaving Administration

A few hours ago, word leaked out that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (“Walsh”) is in the midst of negotiations to head up the NHL Players Union and leave his position at the Labor Department. Walsh, who has served as the sole Labor Secretary under President Biden, has taken part in a labor renaissance of sorts as support for organized labor has increased during his term as Labor Secretary (although the number of workers that have joined a union over the past two years has not grown as mush as some expected.)  He has also overseen the ongoing negotiations with rail workers over a new contract, although that matter is still on shaky ground and playing out as we speak. As for who might step into the vacant Labor Secretary role, there are already rumblings that President Biden should nominate Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su (a strong labor advocate) or even a progressive like Senator Bernie Sanders.  Until Walsh officially gives his notice, however, I would expect some/many potential...
Post a Comment
Read more

San Diego Rolls Back Vaccine Mandate For City Workers

Last Tuesday, the San Diego City Council voted to do away with the vaccine mandate for city employees. The city’s vaccine mandate that was in place required city workers to get the coronavirus vaccine or risk termination.  Perhaps to this surprise of no one, the city’s policy came under fire with 14 employees being terminated and over 100 other employees resigning.  With the coronavirus subsiding, including in Southern California, the San Diego City Council took action. Now, bear in mind, the repeal of the vaccine mandate does not take place immediately. With that being said, the mandate will be repealed March 8th.  I suppose the question now is, what other cities or regions follow San Diego’s lead? For additional information:   https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2023-01-24/san-diego-repeals-controversial-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-citing-drop-in-cases-hospitalizations
Post a Comment
Read more