Spanish women's top flight reaches historic bargaining agreement after months of negotiations

The women in Spain's top division have signed their first collective-bargaining agreement. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)
The women in Spain's top division have signed their first collective-bargaining agreement. (Photo by Oscar J. Barroso / AFP7 / Europa Press Sports via Getty Images)

It took over a year, but the women in Spain’s top soccer division signed their first collective bargaining agreement, according to the Guardian.

As part of the agreement, the women will receive minimum salary guarantees, as well as paid maternity leave.

The agreement, signed on Tuesday and made public on Wednesday, guarantees Primera Division players a minimum annual salary of €16,000 (£13,300) as well as paid holiday and maternity leave among other benefits.

That €16,000 translates to roughly $17,200.

Irene Lozano, president of the national sports council, called the agreement “historic.”

“This is a historic day because this collective agreement is very important for players who were worried about their futures,” said the sports minister, Irene Lozano. “It’s also important for all Spanish women because when one group of people makes advances then so does everyone else.”

The women had been at odds with the Association of Women's Football Clubs for months regarding the agreement. After 13 months of negotiations resulted in no resolution, the women went on strike in November. Eight games were cancelled due to the strike.

The women initially set a Jan. 15 deadline to come to an agreement with the association, but that deadline was extended to Tuesday, when the deal was reportedly signed, according to the Telegraph.

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