Bread and Circuses and Roses

Our world is made up of a series of loops. Repeating patterns that orbit around the gravitational pull of foundational issues. All the 'sims and 'phobias, go spinning around and around. Spiraling around the underlying point until finally enough people recognise and start to push back. Kicking out against the edges, the orbit tilts and elongates. More oval now than circle, it'll take longer for these ideals to come back around.

They are reappearing now though aren't they. Facism is picking up steam at an alarming rate. Pulling in all within reach into it's hateful centre. As we revisit this loop, we must relearn a lesson. It'll be solidarity that will tip this axis and send this nonsense back to the furthest edges.

It can be hard to see that through all the bread and circuses of the day. The places people go to submerge themselves to block out the noise of suffering. This is why I love women's sport, there is no escaping the politics. Try as they might to tell you they don't mix, this space frequently serves up these important life lessons in bite size pieces. Making the terrible more easily digestible, we are fortified for the fight.

The main lesson I need us all to learn right now is the power of a union. The class was in session in the women's sporting world this week as two perfect case studies presented themselves.

A superstar was finally rewarded for her phenomenal form. Sophie Devine, securing nearly half a million NZ$ as she signed in the United Kingdom's pro league. The Hundred mixed things up this year and introduced a player auction. The corresponding headlines would have you believe that this is an overall win for women in the sport but in reality, it's the opening up of a pay gap within the team sheet.

As this excellent analysis from Rahul Iyer breaks down, the gap between the highest paid player and then lowest is bigger than ever before. Their analysis suggesting the highest earner's pay cheque is 14 times the lowest from this drafting system.

When comparing against the salary cap, 8 players saw their wages increase while 15 experienced a decrease. While I love Sophie and can be happy for her personally, I wouldn't call this a win for women's sports. I would call this an example of what happens when we let the market decide and therefore exploit it's workers.

Research of Dr Adele Pavlidis in 2020, examined how the women's sporting world is ripe for exploitation. As she wrote "Their ambitions, for success and recognition, are thwarted by poor conditions, low pay, and pressure to fulfil corporate benchmarks of success.". Who are the champions that have historically fought back for worker's rights? It's unions, it's unions, it's unions.

If we want examples of the power of a union in women's sport, we need look no further than the other big story this week. The WNBA finally signing the new terms of their collective bargaining agreement, bringing to an end a tumultuous 17 month negotiation. These women were unwavering in their solidarity and have won a 466% increase in their salary cap, a 561% increase in their top contracts and a minimum wage of $300,000 USD.

They also won on conditions. While we don't yet have all details, reporting says all players will continue to receive housing for the next three years and provisions will be made for lower-earning players through to 2030.

This deal was a masterclass in organising. The WNBA caught out by the run away popularity of the sport as more than 80% of it's player base coming off contract at the same time. These women purposefully holding out on re-signing, ready to strike and delay the start of this season to get what they were due.

They took the All Star weekend last year and turned it into a protest. All players donning black shirts that read "Pay us what you owe us". A message echoed by the fans who chanted the same at the sell out venue.

High profile players took high profile moments and used them to speak out on the issue. Napheesa Collier using the press conference post her season ending injury to call out the WNBA commissioner for her mismanagement of negotiations.

Perhaps most critically, Collier and fellow player Breanna Stewart, created a league of their own, Unrivaled. This off season alternative showed just how flawed the WNBA current model was. This innovative 3x3 tournament, has set records for attendance, drawn in new sponsors and offered players a new deal. In it's first year, it's minimum salary was twice what was offered in the WNBA. Better still, all inaugural players were offered equity in the league.

The women of the WNBA looked the greed of the administration in the eye and did not blink. They spoke truth to power and did not stutter. They stood shoulder to shoulder and did not break.

For us fans at home, it's easy to understand this as a win. We want our favourites to be treated and paid well for the joy they bring us. But all workers deserve the same, whether they are basketballers, cricketers or Nicola Willis' hypothetical cleaner. When we look at the state of the world and the loop we are now in, I circle back to this famous quote from Rose Schneiderman.

What the woman who labors wants is the right to live, not simply exist – the right to life as the rich woman has the right to life, and the sun and music and art. You have nothing that the humblest worker has not a right to have also. The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too. Help, you women of privilege, give her the ballot to fight with.

The best celebration of this landmark deal in the WNBA will be you joining your union. If we cheer for equity in sports, we need to vote for it in elections too. Know that the only way we can break the cycle of current events is by linking arms with one another.

Come together to tell our leaders to give us bread and give us roses. They can keep the circus to themselves.

With you,
Alice