The Dartmouth men’s basketball team made history this week when they voted 13-2 to join the Service Employees International Union Local 560, becoming the first college athletes to unionize. This decision is a direct challenge to the NCAA’s long-standing amateur business model.
The move came after the National Labor Relations Board ruled that the Dartmouth players are employees and have the right to unionize. However, the school has appealed the decision and is attempting to block the union from forming. This could potentially delay negotiations over a collective bargaining agreement until after the current players have graduated.
The NCAA has maintained its position that athletes are students, not employees. But recent court rulings have begun to chip away at the amateur model, allowing players to profit from their name, image, and likeness. The Dartmouth players hope to negotiate for benefits such as health insurance to cover injuries.
The athletes are not alone in their efforts. The unionization movement at Dartmouth could have a ripple effect on other college sports programs nationwide. The players at the Ivy League school also hope to form an Ivy League Players Association, showing a growing desire to change the current system and improve conditions for themselves and future athletes.
Overall, the decision by the Dartmouth men’s basketball team to unionize marks a significant development in the ongoing debate about the rights and treatment of college athletes. It could potentially transform the landscape of college sports and challenge the NCAA’s amateur model in the years to come.
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