Historic Dartmouth Athlete Union Effort Ends to Preserve Precedent \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Dartmouth men’s basketball team has withdrawn its petition to unionize, ending its push for collective bargaining amid concerns over an impending Republican-led National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). While the effort made history by classifying the players as employees, organizers opted to preserve this precedent instead of risking a negative ruling. The move highlights ongoing challenges to the NCAA’s amateur model, which faces mounting scrutiny.
Dartmouth Basketball Unionization Bid: Quick Looks
- Petition Withdrawn: Dartmouth players ended their unionization effort, citing upcoming NLRB leadership changes.
- Historic Move: The team’s 2023 petition was the first to classify college athletes as employees under labor laws.
- Union Vote: Players voted 13-2 to join SEIU Local 560, which advocates for better compensation and conditions.
- Precedent at Risk: Concerns over a conservative NLRB ruling led to the withdrawal, preserving gains made thus far.
- NCAA Model Challenged: The case highlighted growing pressure to reform the NCAA’s unpaid athlete framework.
Deep Look
Dartmouth Men’s Basketball Team Ends Historic Unionization Effort
In a surprising development, the Dartmouth men’s basketball team has withdrawn its petition to unionize, ending its historic bid to become the first college athletes in the U.S. to achieve collective bargaining rights. The move comes as organizers, represented by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 560, sought to preserve their hard-won progress while avoiding the risk of a precedent-setting ruling from a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that will soon be under Republican control.
This withdrawal halts a potentially groundbreaking effort that challenged the NCAA’s long-standing amateur model. The case had the potential to redefine the legal status of college athletes by formally classifying them as employees—a designation that could have paved the way for sweeping reforms in how college sports operate.
A Groundbreaking Campaign in College Athletics
The Dartmouth players began their unionization push in 2023, arguing that the college exerted so much control over their schedules, training, and other aspects of their lives that they met the legal definition of employees. Under federal labor law, employees are entitled to collective bargaining rights, a key pillar of the players’ argument.
Their case gained traction when an NLRB regional official ruled in their favor, classifying the players as employees and allowing them to vote on union representation. In March 2023, the team overwhelmingly voted 13-2 to join SEIU Local 560, marking the first time college athletes had achieved such recognition in the United States.
The players sought improved compensation, access to adequate health care, and safer working conditions. However, Dartmouth College rejected the classification and refused to bargain, maintaining that Ivy League athletes are students, not employees. This strategy was designed to escalate the case to federal court, a move that could have resulted in broader implications for college sports.
Strategic Withdrawal to Preserve Progress
With the NLRB facing upcoming vacancies to be filled by a new Republican administration, SEIU Local 560 opted to withdraw the petition rather than risk an unfavorable ruling that could have set a restrictive precedent for future unionization efforts.
Chris Peck, president of SEIU Local 560, explained the decision: “By filing a request to withdraw our petition today, we seek to preserve the precedent set by this exceptional group of young people on the men’s varsity basketball team.” Peck praised the players for pushing the conversation on employment and collective bargaining in college sports forward.
The NLRB approved the withdrawal request on Tuesday, formally ending the petition. Despite the withdrawal, advocates see the Dartmouth effort as a significant step toward recognizing the rights of college athletes.
Challenges to the NCAA’s Amateur Model
The NCAA, which governs college sports, has long maintained that players are “student-athletes” rather than employees, a designation that shields schools from obligations like paying wages or providing employee benefits. This model has faced increasing criticism as college sports have evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry, enriching schools, coaches, and administrators while leaving players without compensation.
The Dartmouth case posed a direct challenge to this framework. Had the players succeeded in bargaining collectively, it would have set a precedent that other college athletes could follow, further eroding the NCAA’s amateurism model.
In recent years, court decisions and legislative actions have already begun to chip away at this framework. College athletes are now allowed to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) and receive stipends for living expenses. However, these changes do not address broader issues such as health coverage for injuries or equitable compensation for the revenue athletes help generate.
The NCAA has been lobbying Congress to enshrine its amateur model into federal law, a goal that may gain traction under a Republican-controlled NLRB and potentially supportive lawmakers.
Historical Context and Broader Unionization Efforts
The Dartmouth effort is part of a broader movement to address labor rights in college sports. A previous attempt to unionize by Northwestern University football players in 2015 ultimately failed when the NLRB declined to assert jurisdiction. That decision was influenced by the fact that the Big Ten Conference includes public universities, which fall outside the NLRB’s jurisdiction.
More recently, a case involving football and basketball players at the University of Southern California has reignited the conversation. These athletes are seeking classification as employees not just of their school but also of the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA, broadening the scope of potential employer accountability in college sports.
Impact and Legacy
While the withdrawal marks the end of the Dartmouth basketball team’s unionization bid, it represents a significant milestone in the fight for athlete rights. By successfully earning recognition as employees and voting to unionize, the players demonstrated that collective bargaining in college sports is not only possible but also a viable path forward.
Peck called collective bargaining “the only viable pathway to address issues” in college athletics, emphasizing the need for just compensation, health coverage, and safe working conditions. The Dartmouth case has shifted the conversation, bringing national attention to the labor rights of college athletes.
What’s Next for College Athletes?
Although the immediate effort has ended, the Dartmouth players’ actions have set the stage for future challenges to the NCAA’s model. Advocates are hopeful that the groundwork laid by the team will inspire similar efforts at other schools, particularly as the debate over athlete compensation and treatment continues to gain momentum.
For the NCAA, the case serves as a warning of the growing pressure to reform its approach to athlete rights. While the organization has resisted change, the combined impact of legal challenges, NIL deals, and unionization efforts may force significant adjustments in the coming years.
Conclusion
The Dartmouth basketball team’s unionization effort, though ultimately withdrawn, represents a historic moment in the fight for college athlete rights. By achieving recognition as employees and advancing the conversation on collective bargaining, the players have left an indelible mark on the landscape of college sports. Their efforts may one day be remembered as a pivotal step in the broader movement to ensure fair treatment and compensation for athletes in an industry that has long prioritized profits over people.
Historic Dartmouth
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