The Dartmouth men’s basketball team achieved a historic milestone on Tuesday by voting to unionize, a groundbreaking step towards establishing the first-ever labor union for college athletes. This decision poses a significant challenge to the NCAA’s longstanding amateur business model.
In a closely monitored election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board at the university’s Human Resources offices, the players voted 13-2 in favor of joining the Service Employees International Union Local 560, which currently represents certain workers at Dartmouth. Notably, every single rostered player participated in the vote.
In a joint statement, players Cade Haskins and Romeo Myrthil expressed their satisfaction with the result, emphasizing the importance of unity and solidarity among the team. They emphasized that they, as students, are capable of being both campus workers and union members. Referring to the traditional amateur model, they declared that it is time for an evolution to occur.
Despite this momentous decision, Dartmouth University has the option to file an objection to the NLRB within five business days, and may potentially take the matter to federal court. This could potentially prolong negotiations over a collective bargaining agreement, extending beyond the time period during which the current basketball players remain at the university.
On the school’s end, Dartmouth has issued a rebuttal, reiterating its support for the various unions it bargains with on campus. However, they contest that the students on the men’s basketball team are not actually employed by Dartmouth. They maintain that the primary focus for Ivy League students who are also varsity athletes remains on academics, with athletic participation being an integral part of the educational experience.
Historically, the NCAA has upheld the principle of student-athletes being in school primarily for academic pursuits, rather than for professional athletic careers. However, recent legal developments have challenged this notion, with players now having the ability to profit from their name, image, and likeness, as well as receiving a limited stipend for living expenses.
The decision by the NLRB that the Dartmouth men’s basketball players are employees of the university, and thereby have the right to form a union, has the potential to disrupt the traditional amateur model that has persisted for so long. This has prompted the players to express their intention to engage with other athletes in the Ivy League to explore the possibility of forming unions, aiming to advocate for athletes’ rights and welfare.
If realized, a college athletes union would mark a historic development in American sports. Although a previous attempt to unionize the Northwestern football team failed, the unique circumstances surrounding the Ivy League and its athletes have created an unprecedented opportunity for change.
Players Cade Haskins and Romeo Myrthil have expressed a desire to establish an Ivy League Players Association, extending the benefits of unionization to athletes across different sports and institutions within the conference. While recognizing that such a transformation may not directly benefit them during their time at Dartmouth, they remain motivated by the hope of setting a positive precedent for future student-athletes.
Mary Kay Henry, the international president of the SEIU, commended the basketball team for their historic decision. She highlighted the significance of the Ivy League as the birthplace of the traditional amateur model in college sports, and expressed confidence that it will also be the place where this outdated model will come to an end.
The decision made by the Dartmouth men’s basketball team is a groundbreaking development in the realm of college sports, and it heralds a potential shift towards empowerment and rights for student-athletes across the Ivy League and beyond.
Jimmy Golen covers sports and the law for The Associated Press.