The Unionization of College Athletes

An excerpt of this appeared in NYT Room for Debate

National Labor Relations Board’s ruling that qualifies Northwestern football players as employees of the university and grants them the right to unionize is creating much debate around the issue of athletic reform in college athletics. I applaud the activism of these athletes to seek measures to obtain just treatment and a voice in the decision making process that impact their lives. It speaks to the sophistication and determination these modern day college athletes are willing to exhibit in order to bring about reform. This ruling is an example of their grassroots activism; the kind that is necessary to encourage athletic reform.

On the other hand, I am disappointed in the inertia of the NCAA, which has forced the hands of athletes to seek change and resolution externally. The NCAA efforts have been quite reactionary and defensive instead of proactive and visionary since the onslaught of cases that are challenging amateurism. Maybe their track record of losing in the lower courts and winning in the higher court is a tactical strategy they find successful. Maybe there are simply exhibiting “too big to fail” that is pervasive among corporations of this size.

I have mixed emotions about the application of this ruling because of the distance that exist between this ruling and the actual implementation of it. The process of appeals could go on for years before athletes actually benefit from having a union. Northwestern University officials have stated that they will appeal this decision. Until the development of a functional college players union, athletes will be enduring academic neglect and medical injuries that threatens their ability to be mentally and physically functional citizens.

Also, clearly there are pros (e.g., better wages, medical benefits, job security, etc.,) and cons (e.g., annual dues and fees, individuality, employee & employer collegiality, etc.) of having a union; however, I question whether this is the right methodology for college athletes; especially given the current configuration of college athletics, where there is no clear and definitive distinction between the athletes in revenue generating sports and non-revenue generating sports. Will a union be able to serve the values of both categories of college athletes? Finally, is reducing the power and governance of the NCAA in order to submit to another layer of governance and oversight of a union the plausible outcome? Further grassroots efforts should be directed at gaining a greater voice within the NCAA governing structure and making demands, by any means necessary, for long term health benefits, time to achieve a quality academic experience, and equitable economic compensation based on cost-of-living basic expenses.