Posted on 03/26/2014 3:21:03 PM PDT by iowamark
In a potentially game-changing moment for college athletics, the Chicago district of the National Labor Relations Board ruled on Wednesday that Northwestern football players qualify as employees of the university and can unionize.
NLRB regional director Peter Sung Ohr cited the players' time commitment to their sport and the fact that their scholarships were tied directly to their performance on the field as reasons for granting them union rights.
Ohr wrote in his ruling that the players "fall squarely within the [National Labor Relations] Act's broad definition of 'employee' when one considers the common law definition of 'employee.'"
Ohr ruled that the players can hold a vote on whether they want to be represented by the College Athletes Players Association, which brought the case to the NLRB along with former Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter and the United Steelworkers union...
Northwestern issued a statement shortly after the ruling saying it would appeal to the full NLRB in Washington, D.C.
"While we respect the NLRB process and the regional director's opinion, we disagree with it," the statement read. "Northwestern believes strongly that our student-athletes are not employees, but students. Unionization and collective bargaining are not the appropriate methods to address the concerns raised by student-athletes."
In a statement, NCAA chief legal officer Donald Remy said: "While not a party to the proceeding, the NCAA is disappointed that the NLRB Region 13 determined the Northwestern football team may vote to be considered university employees. We strongly disagree with the notion that student-athletes are employees."
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.go.com ...
nuts to this idea....
In a fair world, this would lead to NCAA sanctions.
Since athletes are not paid employees, how will they make the union dues? Has this been discussed? Or do unions expect to hold universities and tax payers on the hook for those fees?
The “Northwestern Goons” will be their new team name.
Hard foul= pipe to the knee.
I wonder how much tuition will go up now.
The NCAA and ESPN make BILLIONS in revenue off the talent of these players, but if a player sells a single autograph they are treated like criminals. It is the ATHLETE who will lose his livelihood should he shred his knee or have one too many concussions. Let them share in the profits, or make the NCAA and ESPN broadcast the games ad-free and donate all branded merchandise profits to charity. This hypocrisy is un-American.
if they gain wages, then out with the scholarships...
and there will need to be contracts and if broken...like missing practices....the contract can be rescinded....
like some of these thugs are actually going to be good employess...
think about it...a coach couldn't even use tough talk anymore....because he'll be talking to workers and workers shouldn't be treated that way....
Maybe they’ll stop keeping score in order to not hurt someone’s feelings.
NCAA sanctions against whom? The suit was brought by ex-players; the NCAA can’t very well sanction people who aren’t involved in college sports anymore.
Wouldn’t the team lose their amature status if unionized? Perhaps they could become a pro team. It’s not as if Northwestern is really any good.
CC
It's to destroy sports, which promotes civic pride, community, state, and individualism, and help facilitate the Left's dystopian Marxist agenda.
This is why they're destroying the NFL with PC and homosexuality, so that blue-collar and suburban whites can succumb to their agenda.
How would this effect the ACA and number of employees? LOL
Chicago, where else? This could be the end of college sports as we know it. What’s next? General population of students unionize?
Who’s Kidding Who?Universities are just”Farm Systems”for The Pros!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If college athletes are going to just get paid right out in the open,how about The Olympic Committee Re-Instate Burt Lancaster?
Make any, and all, payments at the end of four years of school or until the player has graduated. And, if one doesn't fulfill the four year commitment, no payment! (School) should negotiate just as hard!
All true, cept you missed the part where they get a free education! (Sharing in the profits by way of an education)
Baloney, this is just the unions looking for a new source of funds.
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