Canada women call off strike after being “forced back”

Canada’s women’s team say they decide to call off strike because of threats of legal action by Canada Soccer.

To be clear. We are being forced back to work for the short term. This is not over. We will continue to fight for everything we deserve and we will win. The She Believes is being played in protest. https://t.co/1CmXU3CiYp

— Christine Sinclair (@sincy12) February 12, 2023

Captain Christine Sinclair said on Friday the team, who won the Olympic title in 2021, would strike due to concerns over funding cuts and a lack of pay equity.

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She said they would call off the strike as they “cannot afford the risks” any action will entail with the team were playing the upcoming SheBelieves Cup tournament “in protest”.

Canada will face the United States in the multi-team tournament on 17 February.

A joint statement released on Saturday by the players said Canada Soccer had “told us they consider our job action to be an unlawful strike”.

“We are being forced back to work for the short term,” Sinclair said.

“This is not over. We will continue to fight for everything we deserve, and we will win.”

Canada Soccer said it respected the players’ right to organize but they “were not and are not in a legal strike position under Ontario labour law”.