NCAA News: Dartmouth Basketball Players Considered "School Employees"
Amid the ongoing NCAA investigation at the University of Tennessee, any news about the power structure of collegiate athletics is notable for the Vols. On Monday, an interesting development occurred in the courts - a National Labor Relations Board in Boston ordered a union elect for the men's basketball team at the University of Dartmouth. They cited that the school's basketball players are considered school employees.
"Because Dartmouth has the right to control the work performed by the Dartmouth men’s basketball team, and the players perform that work in exchange for compensation, I find that the petitioned-for basketball players are employees within the meaning of the [National Labor Relations] Act." - Laura Sacks, NLRB regional director
If adopted across the NCAA, the ability to unionize could be noteworthy for college athletics. College athletes could unionize and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with television providers, giving them a share of the steep revenue college football has generated over the past several years.
The NCAA is currently investigating Tennessee for recruiting starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The case relates to an agreement with Spyre Sports that they report Iamaleava signed before his playing career at the University of Tennessee. Several university members have come forward and vehemently denied the allegations, filing a lawsuit against the NCAA alongside the Commonwealth of Virginia. Tennessee offensive lineman Jackson Lampley filed a six-page declaration to courts last week and is listed as a defendant in the suit.
Tennessee Volunteers HC Josh Heupel before the win over Iowa. (Photo by Saul Young of the News Sentinel)
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