Dartmouth Men’s Basketball Team Votes in Favor of Forming Union, Shaking Up College Sports Landscape
In a groundbreaking move that could potentially revolutionize college sports, the Dartmouth men’s basketball team has voted in favor of forming a union. The historic election, which resulted in a 13-2 vote, challenges the traditional principles of the NCAA and marks a significant turning point in the ongoing battle for athlete rights.
The NCAA has long prided itself on preserving the concept of amateurism in collegiate sports. However, recent legal battles have cast doubt on the organization’s relationship with its athletes. This vote by the Dartmouth basketball team could be the catalyst for a major shakeup in the college sports landscape.
The journey leading up to this momentous vote began last September when 15 Dartmouth men’s basketball players filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to unionize. Supported by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), these players sought to be recognized as employees and gain the ability to collectively negotiate with Dartmouth on matters such as pay and scheduling.
Despite opposition from the school, NLRB regional director Laura Sacks ruled in February that the players are indeed employees and could proceed with their election to unionize. Sacks’ ruling was based on the players’ work benefiting the school, the school’s significant control over their work, and the compensation they receive through various means.
The decision to unionize is driven by a desire to create a fairer business model for college sports. Cade Haskins and Romeo Myrthil, both junior players on the Dartmouth team, emphasized that they are not only students but also campus workers who deserve the same rights as any other employee. They called on Dartmouth’s Board of Trustees and President Beilock to embrace change and advocate for athletes’ rights and well-being.
This isn’t the first time college athletes have attempted to unionize. In 2014, Northwestern football players made a similar push but were ultimately unsuccessful due to the NLRB’s jurisdiction limitations. However, Dartmouth’s case is different because it is a member of the all-private Ivy League, which doesn’t face the same competitive equity concerns as state-run schools.
While Tuesday’s vote doesn’t automatically grant employee status to all college athletes, it sets a significant precedent for future cases. A victory for the Dartmouth players’ unionization efforts could inspire other private schools in conferences with more diverse membership to follow suit.
The implications of this vote extend beyond Dartmouth. It could impact ongoing lawsuits related to the status of college athletes across the country. Cases such as Johnson v. NCAA, House v. NCAA, and the NLRB case in California could all be influenced by the Dartmouth ruling. If the California trial confirms that colleges and the NCAA should be considered joint employers of athletes, it could potentially open the door for all college athletes to unionize.
Following Tuesday’s vote, Dartmouth has filed a request for review by the NLRB. The process of official recognition of the union and collective bargaining could take several months, including potential appeals to federal court.
As the landscape of college sports continues to evolve, the Dartmouth men’s basketball team’s decision to form a union marks a significant milestone in the fight for athlete rights. It challenges the traditional notions of amateurism and sets the stage for potential changes in how college athletes are treated and compensated. Only time will tell how this historic vote will reshape the future of college sports.