The Initiative to Unionize by Dartmouth Basketball Team Welcomed by College Sports Reform Advocates – Sky Bulletin
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The recent decision by Dartmouth College men’s basketball players to unionize is being hailed as a significant step by those who have long championed the cause for labor rights among NCAA athletes. Despite the journey being far from over, the successful 13-2 vote, conducted in Hanover, New Hampshire under the oversight of the National Labor Relations Board, marks a critical milestone.
The players chose to become part of the Service Employees International Union Local 560 on Tuesday, initiating what could be the first union in college sports. Ramogi Huma, who orchestrated an attempt to unionize Northwestern University football players years earlier, regards this development as long overdue.
The Northwestern football team was similarly greenlit for a unionization vote by a regional NLR order, but the board’s full assembly later halted the process. Unlike that instance, Dartmouth’s vote results have been disclosed, even as the school petitions the decision.
Dartmouth College has contested the Regional Director’s decision to redefine the term ’employee,’ citing that it strays from established precedents. It has sought intervention from the full NLRB board and the issue may eventually be escalated to federal court.
Huma, now the executive director of the National College Players Association, notes the implications of the Dartmouth case for athletes at University of Southern California (USC), suggesting that it strengthens their case for employee status.
The implications of these cases extend beyond the private institutions under NLRB jurisdiction, potentially affecting public universities participating in the NCAA. The dispute against USC targets not just the school, but also the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA as joint employers.
Jason Stahl of the College Football Players Association expressed optimism inspired by the player-led nature of the Dartmouth movement. Stahl sees potential for a domino effect across college sports and higher education if the precedent stands.
Nonetheless, Huma warns that achieving employee status may be premature given current NCAA compensation regulations. However, ongoing legal challenges against the NCAA suggest changes may be on the horizon.
Regardless of the outcome, the push for unionization by the Dartmouth basketball team is indicative of a shifting landscape in college sports, already undergoing transformations due to relaxed rules around athlete compensation for their name, image, and likeness (NIL) and transfer policies.
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This report received contributions from AP sports writers Jimmy Golen and Pat Eaton-Robb.
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For more information on college basketball, visit the AP college basketball pages at https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball.
The unionization initiative by Dartmouth men’s basketball players represents a pivotal episode in the long-running discourse on college athletes’ rights. Fueled by commitment to reform and buoyed by prior attempts, this recent development could precipitate transformative shifts in college athletics governance and athlete compensation models. As legal proceedings ensue and with the potential for this case to serve as a harbinger, the future of student-athletes in college sports stands on the precipice of meaningful change.
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