For 14 months, the U.S.A. Women's National Hockey team was locked in a battle with the sport's governing body, USA Hockey. They were asking for equal pay and benefits with their male counterparts and fair treatment (including benefits such as child care, maternity leave and more support for youth development in the sport). After initially failing to reach a deal, the dispute culminated with the team threatening to boycott the International Ice Hockey Federation world championship in Plymouth, Mich. The United States is the three-time defending champion and is currently ranked No. 1.
Finally with just days left before the tournament Friday, the women's team agreed to a four-year deal. While the complete financial terms were not released, it was widely reported that the four-year deal could earn each team member more than $100,000 in an Olympic year and about $70,000 in non-Olympic years. Currently U.S.A. Hockey provides each player with $1,000 per month during the six-month Olympic residency every four years. The players also receive up to $2,000 per month in training stipends from the United States Olympic Committee year-round, even in non-Olympic years. Some national team players compete in the National Women’s Hockey League, where salaries, which range from $10,000 to $26,000 a year following a reduction last year. Rigorous year-round training sessions makes it impossible to hold down a traditional full-time job while on the team.
For years, the women’s team, who have won gold in six of the last eight World Championships, have made do with much, much less, while working just as hard as their male counterparts. USA Hockey has a responsibility to the grow the game of hockey, not just for men, but for women as well, and that’s something they have clearly neglected. According the release, USA Hockey spends about $3.5 million to support boys who are participating in the National Team Development Program. Until this new deal, there was no such program for girls, and the Women’s National Team only plays in 9 games a year when there isn’t Olympic competition, even though they’ve asked for more games to be put on the schedule.
The slights - big and small - added up to an insidious pattern. Before the teams left for Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics, USA Hockey hosted a press conference to unveil the sweaters that both the men’s and women’s teams would wear. Despite being the gold medal favorites, the women’s team wasn’t invited to attend the uniform unveiling, only the men were. The women learned about it on TV, along with everyone else. If you need reminding, the 2014 men’s team failed to medal that year, while the women took home silver after a heartbreaking loss to Team Canada in of the best hockey games ever played.
It was a financial as well moral victory for the team and for women's sports in general. The governing body had tried to force the team's hand by seaking out replacement players replacement players to play in the tournament if team members followed through with their boycott. That effort was met by a public and vociferous "No" from many of those approached.
Be Bold For Change. That was the players’ rallying cry in the fight. As far as wages, the men’s team members don’t get paid any more than the women. But, the U.S. men’s Olympic teams --- starting when the NHL first halted its season to allow players to compete in the Winter Games in 1998 --- have been comprised exclusively of NHL players. And even at the annual Men’s World Championship, about two-thirds of the team is made up of NHL players. Since NHL players make millions, there’s no need for USA Hockey to kick in more money. The men’s team, however, does have an edge in some benefits. USA Hockey covers paid transportation for guests, and those guests are allowed to stay at the players' hotel for IIHF events --- like the World Championships --- and receive meals and game tickets. Players on the women’s team stated that they are not allowed to bring guests and are forced to share rooms with teammates. The men also travel to games in business class, while the women fly coach.
The team received significant support from the player's unions of the NHL, NFL, NBA and MLB. Many players on the National Men's team indicated a willingness to also boycott the games in support of the Women's team. Dunkin Donuts, a major sponsor, put pressure on USA Hockey to come to terms. Other sponsors such as Nike, Enterprise, Marriott and Liberty Mutual were silent. Sixteen US Senators also penned a letter to the executive director in support of the team's demands. The letter was signed by: Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) and Edward Markey (@SenMarkey) of Massachusetts, Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) of Washington, Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) of California, Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) of Vermont, Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) of Connecticut, Maggie Hassan (@Senator Hassan) of New Hampshire, Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) of Ohio, Thomas Carper (@SenatorCarper) of Delaware, Tammy Baldwin (@tammybaldwin) of Wisconsin, Robert Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) and Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) of New Jersey, Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) of Hawaii, Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) of Pennsylvania, Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) of New York and Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) of Minnesota.
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