Northwestern Players File With NLRB (Union)

[ABQCOWBOY]

Kain Colter starts union movement
Updated: January 28, 2014, 1:17 PM ET By Tom Farrey | ESPN.com

For the first time in the history of college sports, athletes are asking to be represented by a labor union, taking formal steps on Tuesday to begin the process of being recognized as employees, ESPN's "Outside The Lines" has learned.

Ramogi Huma, president of the National College Players Association, filed a petition in Chicago on behalf of football players at Northwestern University, submitting the form at the regional office of the National Labor Relations Board.

Backed by the United Steelworkers union, Huma also filed union cards signed by an undisclosed number of Northwestern players with the NLRB -- the federal statutory body that recognizes groups that seek collective bargaining rights.

"This is about finally giving college athletes a seat at the table," said Huma, a former UCLA linebacker who created the NCPA as an advocacy group in 2001. "Athletes deserve an equal voice when it comes to their physical, academic and financial protections."

Click on the link below to read the entire article:

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_...cats-football-players-trying-join-labor-union

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

This, IMO, is a mess waiting to happen. It will kill competitive balance in the NCAA. I see this as really only providing advantage to a few top schools and conferences. Schools like Texas, USC, Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, they will all benefit from this kind of thing but smaller schools, they will never be able to be competitive IMO. This is a very bad idea IMO but the ball is rolling now.

 

[burmafrd]

This, IMO, is a mess waiting to happen. It will kill competitive balance in the NCAA. I see this as really only providing advantage to a few top schools and conferences. Schools like Texas, USC, Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, they will all benefit from this kind of thing but smaller schools, they will never be able to be competitive IMO. This is a very bad idea IMO but the ball is rolling now.

something like this was inevitable.

 

[joseephuss]

This, IMO, is a mess waiting to happen. It will kill competitive balance in the NCAA. I see this as really only providing advantage to a few top schools and conferences. Schools like Texas, USC, Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, they will all benefit from this kind of thing but smaller schools, they will never be able to be competitive IMO. This is a very bad idea IMO but the ball is rolling now.

I don't have a problem with that aspect. It pretty much exists as is. It is rare for smaller schools to be competitive and also make money. With over 120 FBS schools it is time to narrow that field. You could cut that in half easily and get rid of schools that never have won or will win.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't have a problem with that aspect. It pretty much exists as is. It is rare for smaller schools to be competitive and also make money. With over 120 FBS schools it is time to narrow that field. You could cut that in half easily and get rid of schools that never have won or will win.

In Football perhaps. However, in Basketball, you see smaller schools beating traditional powers all the time. That will no longer be the case IMO.

 

[ologan]

If they want to "unionize", then let them pay for their education.

 

[Nova]

If they want to "unionize", then let them pay for their education.

Exactly. They're getting a free education in exchange for playing a sport. A year of tuition at a large state school is typically upwards of 10k, plus housing and meal plans, etc. Total cost for college over 4 years would range somewhere between 50k and 150k depending on the school.

They get that, and they get it tax free, plus stipends for volunteering their athleticism.

 

[Nova]

From the article:

The NCAA responded with a statement from Chief Legal Officer Donald Remy, who said "student-athletes are not employees within any definition of the National Labor Relations Act" and that there is no existing employment relationships between the "NCAA, its affiliated institutions or student-athletes."

"This union-backed attempt to turn student-athletes into employees undermines the purpose of college: an education," Remy said in the statement. "Student-athletes are not employees, and their participation in college sports is voluntary. We stand for all student-athletes, not just those the unions want to professionalize."

Pretty much sums up why they shouldn't be able to be a union. They're volunteers. If they don't like the free education and free and easy marketing to their own brand (themselves), then they don't have to take what the college offers them.

It's an opportunity, not a job.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

From the article:



Pretty much sums up why they shouldn't be able to be a union. They're volunteers. If they don't like the free education and free and easy marketing to their own brand (themselves), then they don't have to take what the college offers them.

It's an opportunity, not a job.

The Union Lawyers will say that it is voluntary for any employee to show up to work and that it's the same thing. I don't agree with that by any stretch but just FYI, that's probably the tact they will take.

 

[jobberone]

Kain Colter starts union movement
Updated: January 28, 2014, 1:17 PM ET By Tom Farrey | ESPN.com

For the first time in the history of college sports, athletes are asking to be represented by a labor union, taking formal steps on Tuesday to begin the process of being recognized as employees, ESPN's "Outside The Lines" has learned.

Ramogi Huma, president of the National College Players Association, filed a petition in Chicago on behalf of football players at Northwestern University, submitting the form at the regional office of the National Labor Relations Board.

Backed by the United Steelworkers union, Huma also filed union cards signed by an undisclosed number of Northwestern players with the NLRB -- the federal statutory body that recognizes groups that seek collective bargaining rights.

"This is about finally giving college athletes a seat at the table," said Huma, a former UCLA linebacker who created the NCPA as an advocacy group in 2001. "Athletes deserve an equal voice when it comes to their physical, academic and financial protections."

Click on the link below to read the entire article:

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_...cats-football-players-trying-join-labor-union

Huge deal. I'm surprised it has taken this long.

 

[Nova]

The Union Lawyers will say that it is voluntary for any employee to show up to work and that it's the same thing. I don't agree with that by any stretch but just FYI, that's probably the tact they will take.

Probably, yeah.

I guess they'd have a shot if they can successfully argue that.

But it seems like the ball would then be in the NCAA's court and they could end all of this by upholding their 'amateur only' requisite. At least as long as all colleges are willing to remain a unified front.

They could recognize union members as professionals and thus not allow them to be a NCAA participant.

 

[Future]

People are going to take this as players looking to get paid. They have been adamant about how that isn't their priority.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Probably, yeah.

I guess they'd have a shot if they can successfully argue that.

But it seems like the ball would then be in the NCAA's court and they could end all of this by upholding their 'amateur only' requisite. At least as long as all colleges are willing to remain a unified front.

They could recognize union members as professionals and thus not allow them to be a NCAA participant.

That's the problem. From some of the reporting that I've heard, the Power 5 is actually OK with this idea. They are willing to support the idea of paying players. I assume, because it basically allows them to separate themselves from the rest of D1 and creates a situation in which they only have to share revenues amongst themselves. However, for all of the other conferences, it pretty much leaves them out in the cold.

For example:

In football, a school like Florida will be able to afford to pay their players but a school like UCF will not.

In Basketball, a team like Ohio State will be able to pay their players but a team like Cincinnati will not.

Both UCF and Cincy, respectively, are strong teams that have developed to a point where they can compete with high powered teams and are being ranked in the top 20 with some consistency but those days will be gone for those programs if this is allowed to go through.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

People are going to take this as players looking to get paid. They have been adamant about how that isn't their priority.

To be honest Future, I can see no other way this will play out. Eventually, it will come down to money and what players are paid. Money is at the root of all of this and I can't see that not being the driving force, regardless of who is saying what.

 

[Nova]

That's the problem. From some of the reporting that I've heard, the Power 5 is actually OK with this idea. They are willing to support the idea of paying players. I assume, because it basically allows them to separate themselves from the rest of D1 and creates a situation in which they only have to share revenues amongst themselves. However, for all of the other conferences, it pretty much leaves them out in the cold.

For example:

In football, a school like Florida will be able to afford to pay their players but a school like UCF will not.

In Basketball, a team like Ohio State will be able to pay their players but a team like Cincinnati will not.

Both UCF and Cincy, respectively, are strong teams that have developed to a point where they can compete with high powered teams and are being ranked in the top 20 with some consistency but those days will be gone for those programs if this is allowed to go through.

Yeah. Unfortunately it only takes a handful to ruin it.

 

[Nova]

People are going to take this as players looking to get paid. They have been adamant about how that isn't their priority.

Well what are their priorities if not compensation?

What's the end game?

I haven't read up enough on their motives.

 

[Future]

To be honest Future, I can see no other way this will play out. Eventually, it will come down to money and what players are paid. Money is at the root of all of this and I can't see that not being the driving force, regardless of who is saying what.

Maybe down the line, but those discussions are going to continue happening regardless of compensation. The whole unionizing thing is a lot more nuanced than simply getting paid to play.

 

[Future]

Well what are their priorities if not compensation?

What's the end game?

I haven't read up enough on their motives.

Without looking again, they are pretty concerned about player safety and health and, I think, the biggy is exploitation. Not only are players tired of universities making millions off of endorsements, jersey sales, and that sort of thing, but they don't like missing class to go play in a bball tournament in Alaska or something like that without having a say in it.

To me, their biggest platform is giving players a say in what they have to do, rather than being completely controlled by the NCAA and administrators who really have no clue what the players go through.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Maybe down the line, but those discussions are going to continue happening regardless of compensation. The whole unionizing thing is a lot more nuanced than simply getting paid to play.

To me, the biggest tell here is who is sponsoring and representing the NCPA movement. U.S. Steel Workers is the Union that will be the parent Union. That's very, very different then the Unions that represent any of the professional sports associations. This is going to end up being all about money IMO and it won't be long before that reveals itself.

 

[Future]

To me, the biggest tell here is who is sponsoring and representing the NCPA movement. U.S. Steel Workers is the Union that will be the parent Union. That's very, very different then the Unions that represent any of the professional sports associations. This is going to end up being all about money IMO and it won't be long before that reveals itself.

I guess, I don't claim to know a whole lot about unions. Money might end up being a factor, but I honestly think having a voice in terms of how athletic programs are run is just as important to a lot of these players.