A National Labor Relations Board regional official has decided that Dartmouth basketball players are employees of the school, and could create the first-ever labor union for NCAA athletes.

A National Labor Relations Board regional official ruled on Monday that Dartmouth basketball players are employees of the school, clearing the way for an election that would create the first-ever labor union for NCAA athletes.

All 15 members of the Dartmouth men’s basketball team signed a petition in September asking to join Local 560 of the Service Employees International Union, which already represents some other employees at the Ivy League school in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Unionizing would allow the players to negotiate not only over salary but working conditions, including practice hours and travel.

  • son_named_bort@lemmy.world
    2·
    10 months ago

    Basketball does have a minor league (G-League). There have been attempts to get kids to go to the G-League in lieu of college, but so far the results haven’t been great.

    • BURN@lemmy.world
      3·
      10 months ago

      Nobody cares about real minor leagues. The reason college sports work is the brands attached. Otherwise nobody would watch. The G-League has the same issues, there’s no reason to watch it