In a landmark decision for college athlete rights, the Dartmouth men’s basketball team voted 13-2 in favor of forming a union, challenging the NCAA’s principles of amateurism. This move comes after 15 players filed a petition last September to unionize through the SEIU. The NLRB regional director ruled in February that the players are employees and allowed them to proceed with the unionization process.
Unionization would enable the players to negotiate with Dartmouth over pay, scheduling, and other policies. The players, Cade Haskins and Romeo Myrthil, expressed their desire to create a less exploitative business model for college sports and advocate for athletes’ rights.
Unlike the Northwestern football team’s failed attempt to unionize in 2014, the Dartmouth players have a better chance as they are part of the all-private Ivy League. This vote could have implications for college athletes beyond Dartmouth, serving as a potential milestone in the ongoing athletes’ rights cases around the country.
The NLRB ruling in California, along with cases like Johnson v. NCAA and House v. NCAA, could impact the status of college athletes and potentially allow all college athletes to unionize. Dartmouth has filed for a review by the NLRB, indicating that the official recognition of the union and collective bargaining is still pending, with potential appeals to federal court. This decision marks a significant shift in the college sports landscape and could pave the way for more athletes to assert their rights.
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