Unions for the US women’s and men’s national teams have not committed to agreeing to a single pay structure proposed by the American Football Federation, the federation chief said in a letter to supporters on Tuesday.

The federation’s board has refused to move forward with a structure of agreement agreed to last spring by the men’s union with USSF executive director Will Wilson, a person familiar with said. negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity. This structure was only accepted after the men threatened to strike ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League final on June 6, the person said.

USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone and Wilson, speaking on a media conference call Tuesday, declined to go into details of what happened.

“As with any negotiation, there is a lot to be done,” Wilson said.

The federation released its price proposal in September and in November jointly met with the two unions, which under federal law are not obliged to enter into similar collective agreements.

“What we’re talking about here is equalized cash prize, identical play bonuses, identical commercial revenue sharing agreement,” Parlow Cone said. “But will there be differences in the contracts? Yes, because the teams are different, and they have different needs.”

The United States Women’s National Team Players Association and the United States National Soccer Team Players Association declined to comment.

Parlow Cone, a former national team player, became president of the USSF in March 2020 when Carlos Cordeiro resigned amid a backlash to lawyers for the group who filed legal documents claiming the players of the l The women’s national team had fewer physical capacities and responsibilities than their male counterparts.

Cordeiro announced last week that he is running for the role of Parlow Cone when the USSF National Council meets in Atlanta on March 5.

“I think we have to keep looking forward, not back,” Parlow Cone said. “I believe I have run the organization with integrity and honesty. … We have accomplished a lot in a very difficult time, so I hope the members will see what we have done. And was it perfect? No of course not. There is still a lot of work to be done, and we have a lot more to do. I wish I had a presidency that doesn’t constantly fight COVID. “

The players on the women’s team sued the federation in March 2019, claiming they were not paid fairly under their collective agreement compared to what the men’s team received under their agreement.

US District Judge R. Gary Klausner issued summary judgment to the federation on the wage claim and the parties settled the portion of the lawsuit alleging discriminatory working conditions.

The players have appealed the salary decision and oral argument is scheduled to the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals on March 7.

“This litigation is not a positive thing for anything we do, quite frankly, and it has helped a lot of negative things happen and be said,” Parlow Cone said. “The litigation is obviously making the CBA a bit more negotiated… difficult, but we are still moving on a positive path.

FIFA awarded $ 400 million in prizes to the 32 teams of the 2018 Men’s World Cup, including $ 38 million for the French champion. It awarded $ 30 million to the 24 teams at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, including $ 4 million to the United States after the Americans won their second straight title.

FIFA raised the total to $ 440 million for the 2022 Men’s World Cup, and its president, Gianni Infantino, has offered FIFA to double the women’s prize to $ 60 million for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, in which FIFA has increased the number of teams to 32.

“Until FIFA resolves the problem itself, we have to find a way to equalize the prices of the World Cup,” Parlow Cone said.

The women’s collective agreement expires March 31 as part of a three-month extension. The men’s deal expired in December 2018.

Notes: Parlow Cone said USSF is continuing studies for a national training center, which it hopes could be in place before the 2026 World Cup. Cordeiro also favors a training center.

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