College athletes can unionize, federal agency says

Associated Press ^ | March 26, 2014 | Michael Tarm

[AU72]

In a stunning ruling that has the potential to revolutionize college athletics, a federal agency said Wednesday that football players at Northwestern University can create the nation's first college athlete's union.

The decision by a regional director of the National Labor Relations Board means it agrees football players at the Big Ten school qualify as employees under federal law and therefore can legally unionize.

[Drango]

goofy.

[TexasCajun]

What about the Band Members? ...the Debate Team?

[Night Hides Not]

What about the Band Members? ...the Debate Team?

They're collateral damage...the Dogs of War are loose.

[apillar]

Ok NCAA rules say college athletes CAN NOT be compensated or they are not eligible to play in the NCAA (which is the only game in town). So what will there be for the union to negotiate? If a college breaks down and pays their players, they get kicked out of the NCAA, essentially killing their football program.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

What happens when these “students” graduate?

Will they have to resign from their union?

[rainee]

Since they are now employees, their scholarships must be considered as taxable income.

**BINGO!!

[Billthedrill]

Oh, great, just what we need: gangs of unionized curling punks and field hockey players stalking the campus.

[discostu]

They don’t have to put up with idiotic NCAA rules. Really that’s what this is all about, the NCAA’s hard ban on athletes receiving any level of compensation, including the kind of stipends that come with academic scholarships.

[edcoil]

It should end all scholarships.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

We are all union thugs now.

[discostu]

Getting rid of that rule. Either by forcing the NCAA to chance, or getting the schools out of the NCAA. The later is more likely, schools are getting tired of the NCAA and their constant “investigations” and having wins vacated. It’s why they’re forming the super conferences.

[Milton Miteybad]

Since they are now employees, their scholarships must be considered as taxable income.

And THAT is going to leave a mark. Heh, heh...

[Nifster]

now that is one of the stupidest things that has ever been said by the Labor Board....We’ll see if it actually holds

[9YearLurker]

I’m not for any government sanctioned or promoted unionizing ‘rights’.

But so long as we have them, they might as well extend to our play as much as our work.

Perhaps it’ll wake a few people up to the absurdity of it all.

[Nifster]

you maybe stuned but I want to know if your berber is on

[massgopguy]

So players coming out of high school will go to the highest bidder. This will make LeBron James jealous.

[xkaydet65]

Ruling kind of makes hash of amateur status doesn’t it? And since they are now employees and there is no law anywhere mandating that a concern must have an equal number of male/female employees it also makes hash of Title 9. Schools can now spend anything they want on mens’ sports, call the players employees and drop every women’s sport into limbo.

[edcoil]

Only 1% of college players get into the NFL, there goes their educations and positive chance at life.

[edcoil]

No more rowing team, track and field, a lot of sports will fold or get too expensive.

[AU72]

Elections have consequences, Chapter XXV.