Northwestern football team Unionizes (files)

[Miramonti]

Northwestern football team starts union movement

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."

Huma told "Outside The Lines" that the move to unionize players at Northwestern started with quarterback Kain Colter, who reached out to him last spring and asked for help in giving athletes representation in their effort to improve the conditions under which they play NCAA sports. Colter became a leading voice in regular NCPA-organized conference calls among players from around the country.

"The action we're taking isn't because of any mistreatment by Northwestern," Colter said. "We love Northwestern. The school is just playing by the rules of their governing body, the NCAA. We're interested in trying to help all players -- at USC, Stanford, Oklahoma State, everywhere. It's about protecting them and future generations to come.

"Right now the NCAA is like a dictatorship. No one represents us in negotiations. The only way things are going to change is if players have a union."

The NFLPA's Board of Player Representatives passed a resolution supporting the players' union movement, Pro Football Talk has reported: "Resolved, that the NFLPA pledges its support to the National Collegiate Players Association (NCPA) and its pursuit of basic rights and protections for future NFLPA members."

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It will be very interesting to see where this goes. It might be the start of a huge groundbreaking movement that will eventually require the ncaa to pull their corrupt heads out of their @sses.

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UPDATE 3/26/14:

Chicago district of the National Labor Relations Board rules Northwestern football players are "Employees" by commonlaw def., win bid to unionize

NLRB regional director Peter Sung Ohr cited the players' time commitment to their sport and the fact that their scholarships were tied directly to their performance as reasons for granting them union rights.

Ohr wrote in his ruling that the players "fall squarely within the [National Labor Relations] Act's broad definition of 'employee' when one considers the common law definition of 'employee.'"

Ohr ruled that the players can hold a vote on whether they want to be represented by the College Athletes Players Association, which brought the case to the NLRB along with former Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter and the United Steelworkers union...

Ruling PDF

IT'S ON!

(Appeals to follow?)

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UPDATE 8/17/2015...DENIED!:

Northwestern Loses Bid to Unionize after Labor Board Ruling

 

[zinfamous]

interesting. very interesting.

 

[Drako]

Which begs the question:

If the Northwestern football team went on strike, would anybody notice or care?

 

[Miramonti]

Which begs the question:

If the Northwestern football team went on strike, would anybody notice or care?

Probably not. However all Big Ten football teams went on strike, the sh!t would hit the fan and things would never be the same.

 

[ElFenix]

Which begs the question:

If the Northwestern football team went on strike, would anybody notice or care?

that's not begging the question

 

[zinfamous]

that's not begging the question

Irregardless, he raises a considerable point.

 

[sdifox]

I thought NCAA is not paid? Until they get paid, I don't see why they need a union.

 

[Drako]

that's not begging the question

I beg to differ.

 

[RPD]

Good, after reading the King of Sports and knowing how much money the NCAA makes off college football they should get a LOT more or at the very least the academic side of colleges should get more.

 

[notposting]

I thought NCAA is not paid? Until they get paid, I don't see why they need a union.

I think that is part of the reason for it.

From what I've gathered over the years, the NCAA won't let the players do much, if any, outside work at all. So Bob the math major can work at a local business for some spending money, but Bill the math major AND football player can not.

Add in irritation about the Scrooge McDuck like piles of money the schools rake in while not sharing, and it's not surprising.

 

[Drako]

With any luck the NCAA will be gone in a couple of years. They are a complete joke.

 

[Red Storm]

Honestly I don't think they should get paid, the massive amounts of money they generate should go to many programs in the school, not just sports (I'm assuming that's how it works).

They get a scholarship, that is plenty reward IMHO.

 

[halik]

Really interesting

 

[ElFenix]

I think that is part of the reason for it.

From what I've gathered over the years, the NCAA won't let the players do much, if any, outside work at all. So Bob the math major can work at a local business for some spending money, but Bill the math major AND football player can not.

Add in irritation about the Scrooge McDuck like piles of money the schools rake in while not sharing, and it's not surprising.

football players can work, it's just that most don't have time between practice and the extra studying they nearly all need.

rhett bomar didn't get in trouble for having a job at a car dealership in oklahoma, he got in trouble for getting paid for work he didn't do.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Which begs the question:

If the Northwestern football team went on strike, would anybody notice or care?

Their opponents would care. That's one easy win off the schedule.

Honestly I don't think they should get paid, the massive amounts of money they generate should go to many programs in the school, not just sports (I'm assuming that's how it works).

For the vast majority of schools football is a money loser. They're expensive programs to operate and without a huge TV deal which only the really elite schools can get football does not even break even let alone pump money back into the school.

 

[Drako]

Their opponents would care. That's one easy win off the schedule.

I'm sure Jim Delaney would just force NW to field a team with the non-striking players and walk-ons, so the game would be played regardless.

 

[zinfamous]

I think that is part of the reason for it.

From what I've gathered over the years, the NCAA won't let the players do much, if any, outside work at all. So Bob the math major can work at a local business for some spending money, but Bill the math major AND football player can not.

Add in irritation about the Scrooge McDuck like piles of money the schools rake in while not sharing, and it's not surprising.

I think examples like that are fair, but at the end of the day, one can't ignore the fact that the athletes that these practices exploit the most--the blue chip players that bring recognition to the school, and money to the sport program (the AD--not the schools. the schools never actually get any money from these shenanigans that finds its way beyond the AD), and thus great profit to the NCAA and the networks, are actually getting paid--a shit ton.

These athletes get 4 year, fully-paid scholarships and will finish with a Bachelor's degree. Granted, they tend to be in generally "worthless" easy majors, but each one of these athletes is receiving full tuition each year they are in school. Some of these schools, these days, that can add up to about $100k or even more over the course of their tenure.

Those non-athlete math majors are actually working those jobs to pay for something that top athletes never have to pay for.

 

[unokitty]

Northwestern football team starts union movement



It will be very interesting to see where this goes. It might be the start of a huge groundbreaking movement that will eventually require the ncaa to pull their corrupt heads out of their @sses.

For many schools, everyone, except the athlete, is making money off of sports.

Tired of seeing coaches with six and seven figure contracts along with administrations with similar TV contracts complaining that the can't pay the student athletes because they are 'amateurs.'

Uno

 

[RPD]

I think examples like that are fair, but at the end of the day, one can't ignore the fact that the athletes that these practices exploit the most--the blue chip players that bring recognition to the school, and money to the sport program (the AD--not the schools. the schools never actually get any money from these shenanigans that finds its way beyond the AD), and thus great profit to the NCAA and the networks, are actually getting paid--a shit ton.

These athletes get 4 year, fully-paid scholarships and will finish with a Bachelor's degree. Granted, they tend to be in generally "worthless" easy majors, but each one of these athletes is receiving full tuition each year they are in school. Some of these schools, these days, that can add up to about $100k or even more over the course of their tenure.

Those non-athlete math majors are actually working those jobs to pay for something that top athletes never have to pay for.

Except you know for that fact that what, less than half of these guys even graduate? Not to say it's NOT possible, but many schools don't follow NCAA code with how much time a player can spend on watching film or general practice, yet if a coach asks it, you know damn well they have to or be cut and lose their scholarship.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

they get scholarship and generous stipends. its not fair given what they pull in as revenue, but for the vast majority of kids, the pros arent an option. so to get a 4 year degree and living expenses completely covered is not a bad tradeoff.

 

[zinfamous]

Honestly I don't think they should get paid, the massive amounts of money they generate should go to many programs in the school, not just sports (I'm assuming that's how it works).

They get a scholarship, that is plenty reward IMHO.

Second part, yeah. I pretty much agree. First part--that money stays in the Athletic Department. The schools rarely see any of it.

In fact the biggest sports programs--say Penn State and Michigan and the like, are completely self-sufficient from their Academic "hosts." The AD answers to no one, and thus keeps revenue to themselves.

Despite this, the revenue that these sports programs actually bring in, to fund themselves, is a mere fraction of the revenue that the schools bring in, primarily for research. A school like Penn State could literally tell the AD to fuck off and dissolve it, with no real depreciation in the academic side of the school.

 

[zinfamous]

Except you know for that fact that what, less than half of these guys even graduate? Not to say it's NOT possible, but many schools don't follow NCAA code with how much time a player can spend on watching film or general practice, yet if a coach asks it, you know damn well they have to or be cut and lose their scholarship.

yeah, that's true, too. Many of them won't see a degree, for leaving early and going pro, maybe even injury ending their career (do they actually lose years on their scholarship if they can no longer play due to injury? I seem to think those 4 years are guaranteed...).

I think with the real risk that many of them take attempting to go pro, despite having a full ride, it seems fair to allow them another measure of compensation.

 

[ElFenix]

For the vast majority of schools football is a money loser. They're expensive programs to operate and without a huge TV deal which only the really elite schools can get football does not even break even let alone pump money back into the school.

i don't think that's correct. football usually makes money, the athletic department as a whole usually loses money.

 

[Uppsala9496]

yeah, that's true, too. Many of them won't see a degree, for leaving early and going pro, maybe even injury ending their career (do they actually lose years on their scholarship if they can no longer play due to injury? I seem to think those 4 years are guaranteed...).

I think with the real risk that many of them take attempting to go pro, despite having a full ride, it seems fair to allow them another measure of compensation.

I don't think scholarships are guaranteed. So you get injured and the team decides not to keep you next year, you are now paying for tuition on your own.
Team may decide you didn't work hard enough or are not gifted enough to play, and there goes that scholarship next year.

 

[Nintendesert]

A lot of people get scholarships to go to school. They aren't kept in poverty due to it.