Soccer Canada has reached a tentative agreement with the Canadian Women’s Team for severance in 2022.
Although the agreement represents a step forward in negotiations with the men’s and women’s teams, the process has not yet reached the finish line.
Soccer Canada must also reach an agreement with the men’s team.
Since both teams want pay equity, one agreement is linked to the other, although the employment contracts are separate.
In addition, the women’s team has other grievances to settle.
The tentative deal was announced Thursday night in a brief statement released by Soccer Canada with the agreement of the women’s team.
“It’s a matter of respect, dignity and leveling the competitive environment in a world that is fundamentally unequal,” Canada Soccer General Secretary Earl Cochrane said in a statement. We have been consistent and public about the need for equity and equal pay as pillars of any new agreement with our players and we are delivering on that goal today.
“While this is an important step forward and a sign of progress, there is still work to be done to ensure that our national programs have the resources and supports needed in the preparations and to compete on the field. »
Details of the tentative deal were not disclosed.
“Last summer, we reached a tentative agreement with the men’s team based on game attendance and results. This agreement mirrors the one that the women’s team has just accepted, said a spokesperson for Soccer Canada. This agreement was to serve as a bridge until the renewal of the collective agreement, which is part of the current negotiations. »
The 9 million US dollars that the Canadian men’s team received for their participation in the World Cup in Qatar are part of the pay equity discussions.
“We continue to work towards an agreement regarding the World Cup-related scholarship,” added the spokesperson.
Soccer Canada said the terminable severance agreement with the women’s team was subject to change “based on details included in the final collective agreement agreement.” »
The women’s team highlighted other issues.
The players want to receive the same support ahead of the Women’s World Cup this summer in Australia and New Zealand as the men received before the tournament in Qatar. Their concerns include travel and staff.
Like the men’s team, the women’s team also wants to see Soccer Canada open its books and explain why both programs have suffered significant budget cuts in 2023 despite the success of both teams on the pitch.
The collective agreement for the women’s team has expired since the end of 2021. The men’s team is negotiating a first agreement after forming an association last year.
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