Bill Text: NJ AJR57 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges U.S. Soccer Federation to provide U.S. Women's National Team with equal pay and conditions.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-06-20 - Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Labor Committee [AJR57 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AJR57-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Urges U.S. Soccer Federation to provide U.S. Women's National Team with equal pay and conditions.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution urging the U.S. Soccer Federation to provide the U.S. Women's National Team with equal pay and conditions.
Whereas, Despite being the most dominant sports team representing the United States in international play, and generating more revenue than the United States Men's National Team, the U.S. Soccer Federation pays the United States Women's National Team less than their male counterparts; and
Whereas, The women's team has been more successful, winning three World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals, while the men's team has never reached the final round of either competition; and
Whereas, The women's team is more successful at raising revenues, earning nearly $20 million more than the men's team in 2015, with projections from the U.S. Soccer Federation showing that the women's team is set to pull in $8 million more in 2017; and
Whereas, In spite of their impressive victories and sound earning potential, the women are paid almost four times less than the men; and
Whereas, The disparity in bonus pay between the teams is particularly shocking: male players are paid $5,000 for a loss in a friendly match and as much as $17,625 for a victory, while female players are paid $1,350 for wins, but receive nothing for losses or ties; and
Whereas, Women are also paid less for sponsorship appearances, receive less in per diem while with the national team, and receive less in ticket share revenue bonuses; and
Whereas, The unequal conditions extend beyond the pay discrepancies to playing, traveling, and training conditions. The women's team has at times had to play on artificial turf, which is notorious for causing injuries, while every FIFA-sanctioned men's match is played on natural grass; and
Whereas, This unequal pay is a reflection of gender wage disparity throughout the workforce, as in 2014, female full time workers made only 79 cents for every dollar made by men; and
Whereas, By addressing wage disparity in U.S. Soccer, the U.S. Soccer Federation will send a powerful message in support of gender wage equality for all workers; and
Whereas, The U.S. Soccer Federation should show the importance and value of the women's team to its organization by providing the team with equal pay, including equal opportunities for bonus pay, and equal playing, traveling, and training conditions; now, therefore,
Be It
Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
1. The United States Soccer Federation is hereby urged to provide the United States Women's National Team with pay and conditions that are equal to those provided to the United States Men's National Team.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the United States Soccer Federation.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution urges the United States Soccer Federation to provide the United States Women's National Team with equal pay, including equal opportunities for bonus pay, and equal playing, traveling, and training conditions as those provided to the United States Men's National Team.
Despite being the most dominant sports team representing the United States in international play, and generating more revenue than the United States Men's National Team in 2015, the U.S. Soccer Federation pays the United States Women's National Team less than their male counterparts, and provides them with unequal playing, traveling, and training conditions.
This resolution urges the U.S. Soccer Federation to show the importance and value of the women's team to its organization by providing the team with equal pay and conditions.
