Liga F players’ strike off after pay deal agreement
A players’ strike in Liga F, the professional top tier of women’s football in Spain, has ended after an agreement on a minimum wage was reached between the league and players’ unions.
The strike saw all games on match day one of the 2023-24 Liga F season — which were due to take place last weekend — postponed, with match day two also under threat.
A deal was struck between the league and the five unions representing players late on Wednesday, less than 48 hours before the next round of games was due to kick off.
“After a new, long round of negotiations, with the mediation of [public mediation service] SIMA, Liga F and the unions have reached an agreement in relation to a minimum salary, which allows for the calling off of the strike,” the league said in a statement.
“The parties have signed an agreement for the next three seasons, which establishes a minimum annual salary of 2023-24 season: €21,000, which could increase to €23,000 depending on the growth of the competition’s commercial income.
The 2024-25 season: €22,500, which could increase to €25,000 depending on the growth of the competition’s commercial income.
And then 2025-26 season: €23,500, which could increase to €28,000 depending on the growth of the competition’s commercial income.
This professional league and its clubs have always defended the need to reach a long-term agreement which will give stability to the project of professional women’s football, permitting a gradual and sustainable growth based on the competition’s development.”
In a statement, the five unions — which include FUTpro, AFE and Futbolistas ON — said that a number of other issues remained unresolved.
“This step is the beginning, and just one part of an agreement,” the unions said. “Now it’s time to work on making progress on such important issues as maternity, harassment protocols, compensation and others which we consider just as important for the proper development of our footballers’ activity.”
A national women’s league has been played in Spain since 1988. –Soccernet.com
