National Labor Relations Board says Northwestern players can't unionize

[Giant Moose]

Northwestern University football players cannot form a union, the National Labor Relations Board ruled, overturning a March 2014 decision and ending the players’ bid to change the college sports landscape.

Among the board’s findings in a unanimous 16-page opinion was that certifying the players’ petition “would not promote uniformity and stability in labor relations,” and that allowing Northwestern players to bargain with a single employer over policies that apply throughout the National Collegiate Athletic Association would potentially upset the balance of competition.

In what NLRB officials called a “very narrow decision,” the board declined to address whether the players are employees at Northwestern and ruled rather on whether granting their petition would serve the purposes of the National Labor Relations Act. Of the 125 football programs in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision, the top echelon, just 17 are private schools and Northwestern is the only one in the Big Ten Conference.

The unionization effort, along with recent lawsuits seeking to increase college players’ rights, had the potential to upend the business of college sports. Schools in college football’s top division turned a $1.4 billion profit on $3.4 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ended June 2014, according to data schools submit to the U.S. Department of Education.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-17/northwestern-football-players-cannot-form-a-union-nlrb-rules

[Rocinante]

Yay! Let the exploitation continue!!

[Giant Moose]

Yay! Let the exploitation continue!!

I don't know if a union was the right or wrong thing for college football, but I really hope we eventually get a system where student-athletes can make money off their own likenesses.

[Turtleneck]

Yay! Let the exploitation continue!!

It's a travesty. A total travesty. Borderline human rights violations. I hope the UN pressures the Obama administration to address this issue.

[tanfan!]

dumb and a money grab. glad it's over

[Other Teams Pursuing That]

I wish I could have played basketball for a free education. Shit, there are a plethora of benefits outside of the free education, but we won't talk about those. Poor athletes.

[Giant Moose]

I wish I could have played basketball for a free education. Shit, there are a plethora of benefits outside of the free education, but we won't talk about those. Poor athletes.

You had a chance to get your education paid for if you had an elite talent.

The difference is that elite kid on an academic scholarship can go earn outside money from his talent while in school but a football player can't. They either have to restrict all students on scholarship from earning money from their talent or open it up to everyone.

As of now, it's not fair.

[Turtleneck]

there are a plethora of benefits outside of the free education

This is a good point. The value of an athletic scholarship is not limited to the actual value of the education provided to the athlete.

[Rocinante]

there are a plethora of benefits outside of the free education

This is a good point. The value of an athletic scholarship is not limited to the actual value of the education provided to the athlete.

And the risks? Are those a trade off? If so, how many years of education is a destroyed knee worth? Maybe I'll trade one of mine in and get a phD

[Giant Moose]

there are a plethora of benefits outside of the free education

This is a good point. The value of an athletic scholarship is not limited to the actual value of the education provided to the athlete.

The value of an academic scholarship isn't either, though.

[GRR Spartan]

Makes sense. Technically they are still students who don't get a W2 or 1099 from the university.

[steveschneider]

"Schools in college football’s top division turned a $1.4 billion profit on $3.4 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ended June 2014"

All I need to see. Time to improve the compensation.

[Giant Moose]

Makes sense. Technically they are still students who don't get a W2 or 1099 from the university.

I agree with this. The university fulfills its obligations to student-athletes by providing them scholarships, access to training facilities, and access to good coaching mentors.

The NCAA rule that prohibits them from using their likenesses to earn money is where my big problem has been.

[Blanch32]

Makes sense. Technically they are still students who don't get a W2 or 1099 from the university.

I agree with this. The university fulfills its obligations to student-athletes by providing them scholarships, access to training facilities, and access to good coaching mentors.

The NCAA rule that prohibits them from using their likenesses to earn money is where my big problem has been.

This.

Mateen put it best:

I'll pay for school if I can get 10% of my jersey sales

[steveschneider]

If I had the talent I'd pick the school with the best personal chef, athlete dorms, facilities, print out free grades/the best tutors that will write my papers, free cars, put the most cash in my palms during hand shakes, the hottest hosts for some visit strange and last but not least gives my street agent his fair cut.

[StylesGShmooth]

"Schools in college football’s top division turned a $1.4 billion profit on $3.4 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ended June 2014"

All I need to see. Time to improve the compensation.

.

This, and lest not forget all the bullshit costs that they roll in that makes that profit seem lower, stuff like Ahtletic department having to pay to rent the Bres or lower revenue like concessions and parking for the most part not going to the Athletic Department. Wonder what those real numbers would be.

Let's talk bowl games...

[DWags]

It's slave labor and abuse. Look how Jim Harbaugh cut kids loose because they're hurt.

Fuck that, at minimum. Colleges should be on the hook for life time health insurance and 1k a month spending money while in college.

[Turtleneck]

"Schools in college football’s top division turned a $1.4 billion profit on $3.4 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ended June 2014"

All I need to see. Time to improve the compensation.

.

This, and lest not forget all the bullshit costs that they roll in that makes that profit seem lower, stuff like Ahtletic department having to pay to rent the Bres or lower revenue like concessions and parking for the most part not going to the Athletic Department.  Wonder what those real numbers would be.

Let's talk bowl games...

Can we talk about the profit made by UConn,South Florida, Eastern Carolina, Temple, Central Florida, Tulsa, Memphis, Houston, Southern Methodist, Tulane, Western Kentucky, Marshall, Old Dominion, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Middle Tennessee, UNC Charlotte, Rice, North Texas, Louisiana Tech, Southern Mississippi, Texas San Antonio, Texas El Paso, UMass, Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), Akron, Buffalo,  Kent, Ball State, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Colorado State, New Mexico, Souther Utah, Wyoming, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Nevada, South Alabama, Idaho, New Mexico State, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Arkansas State, Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana Monroe, Troy, and Appalachian State?

[Turtleneck]

"Schools in college football’s top division turned a $1.4 billion profit on $3.4 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ended June 2014"

All I need to see. Time to improve the compensation.

The guy that says he would vote for a socialist because there is too much inequality in society thinks the free market will fix college football. That makes no sense. I have never heard of a socialist that thinks the market is a solution to anything.

[Turtleneck]

This is a good point. The value of an athletic scholarship is not limited to the actual value of the education provided to the athlete.

The value of an academic scholarship isn't either, though.

I am fine with the current compensation for college athletes. However, you have a point when you compare how a student on academic scholarship is free to generate additional income, whereas the student on an athletic scholarship is prohibited from doing so. I suppose the problem is that when the student on athletic scholarship plays for Alabama but earns most of their income from Nike, where do their loyalties lie and how does Alabama and Nike protect their investment in a manner that does not conflict?

[StylesGShmooth]

.

This, and lest not forget all the bullshit costs that they roll in that makes that profit seem lower, stuff like Ahtletic department having to pay to rent the Bres or lower revenue like concessions and parking for the most part not going to the Athletic Department.  Wonder what those real numbers would be.

Let's talk bowl games...

Can we talk about the profit made by UConn,South Florida, Eastern Carolina, Temple, Central Florida, Tulsa, Memphis, Houston, Southern Methodist, Tulane, Western Kentucky, Marshall, Old Dominion, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Middle Tennessee, UNC Charlotte, Rice, North Texas, Louisiana Tech, Southern Mississippi, Texas San Antonio, Texas El Paso, UMass, Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), Akron, Buffalo,  Kent, Ball State, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Colorado State, New Mexico, Souther Utah, Wyoming, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Nevada, South Alabama, Idaho, New Mexico State, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Arkansas State, Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana Monroe, Troy, and Appalachian State?

Sure, all ( or most, not sure about some of them) those are FBS school, so they were included in that figure.

[GRR Spartan]

No sense getting personal about this. It was cut and dry. The football players failed to prove they met the standard of what constitutes being an employee. If you can't prove you meet the definition of employee you can't be part of an employee union.

I think the NCAA is starting to get out of the dark ages with the new rules concerning food and I think across the board stipends will be next.

[StylesGShmooth]

I really don't know the full details of the NLRB and the answer to what should be done is quite complicated. It's definitely not as simple as , pay them. The current situation is exploitative plain and simple though.

[DWags]

I really don't know the full details of the NLRB and the answer to what should be done is quite complicated. It's definitely not as simple as , pay them. The current situation is exploitative plain and simple though.

Slave fucking labor. Bring in millions to restaurants hotels donations to campus parking radio TV concessions. Employ thousands and at most get 27K or so from MSU.

[Other Teams Pursuing That]

I really don't know the full details of the NLRB and the answer to what should be done is quite complicated.  It's definitely not as simple as , pay them.  The current situation is exploitative plain and simple though.

Slave fucking labor. Bring in millions to restaurants hotels donations to campus parking radio TV concessions. Employ thousands and at most get 27K or so from MSU.

A degree from MSU is only 27K now? Why didn't I get that groupon?

[steveschneider]

"Schools in college football’s top division turned a $1.4 billion profit on $3.4 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ended June 2014"

All I need to see. Time to improve the compensation.

The guy that says he would vote for a socialist because there is too much inequality in society thinks the free market will fix college football. That makes no sense. I have never heard of a socialist that thinks the market is a solution to anything.

Brother, you got me all wrong.

[Turtleneck]

Can we talk about the profit made by UConn,South Florida, Eastern Carolina, Temple, Central Florida, Tulsa, Memphis, Houston, Southern Methodist, Tulane, Western Kentucky, Marshall, Old Dominion, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Middle Tennessee, UNC Charlotte, Rice, North Texas, Louisiana Tech, Southern Mississippi, Texas San Antonio, Texas El Paso, UMass, Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), Akron, Buffalo,  Kent, Ball State, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Colorado State, New Mexico, Souther Utah, Wyoming, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Nevada, South Alabama, Idaho, New Mexico State, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Arkansas State, Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana Monroe, Troy, and Appalachian State?

Sure, all ( or most, not sure about some of them) those are FBS school, so they were included in that figure.

They all are IA. Most of them, if not all of them, do not make a profit. Most of them lose money. 40%-50% of the schools in IA create 100% of the profit. The rest of the schools find different ways to subsidize their athletic departments.

[Turtleneck]

The guy that says he would vote for a socialist because there is too much inequality in society thinks the free market will fix college football. That makes no sense. I have never heard of a socialist that thinks the market is a solution to anything.

Brother, you got me all wrong.

Well, previous conversations say otherwise....

[Turtleneck]

No sense getting personal about this.  It was cut and dry.  The football players failed to prove they met the standard of what constitutes being an employee.  If you can't prove you meet the definition of employee you can't be part of an employee union.

I think the NCAA is starting to get out of the dark ages with the new rules concerning food and I think across the board stipends will be next.

Not trying to get personal. It's just annoying how we have devalued education in this country. Apparently  it has little value. Besides that, people are somehow seeing athletic departments as equal in all of this. There is a huge difference between Mid-American schools and SEC schools. Hell, there is a huge difference between Northwestern and Ohio State. 50% of the schools currently playing IA football have no market value.

For me, what is killing college sports is commercialization and money. I'm not sure more commercialization and money fixes the problem. However, Moose does present and interesting complication...other scholarship students can use their talent to generate additional revenue for themselves.

As far as the ruling goes, in the long run it is probably best, for tax purposes, that scholarship athletes are not considered employees.

[DWags]

Slave fucking labor. Bring in millions to restaurants hotels donations to campus parking radio TV concessions. Employ thousands and at most get 27K or so from MSU.

A degree from MSU is only 27K now? Why didn't I get that groupon?

No, I meant yearly. I know your pain I'm writing checks as we speak.

[steveschneider]

No sense getting personal about this.  It was cut and dry.  The football players failed to prove they met the standard of what constitutes being an employee.  If you can't prove you meet the definition of employee you can't be part of an employee union.

I think the NCAA is starting to get out of the dark ages with the new rules concerning food and I think across the board stipends will be next.

Not trying to get personal. It's just annoying how we have devalued education in this country. Apparently  it has little value. Besides that, people are somehow seeing athletic departments as equal in all of this. There is a huge difference between Mid-American schools and SEC schools. Hell, there is a huge difference between Northwestern and Ohio State. 50% of the schools currently playing IA football have no market value.

For me, what is killing college sports is commercialization and money. I'm not sure more commercialization and money fixes the problem. However, Moose does present and interesting complication...other scholarship students can use their talent to generate additional revenue for themselves.

As far as the ruling goes, in the long run it is probably best, for tax purposes, that scholarship athletes are not considered employees.

What other group of people shouldn't be paid in your opinion? Lets not allow students at Universities to go out and earn money while trying to obtain a degree.

[Turtleneck]

Not trying to get personal. It's just annoying how we have devalued education in this country. Apparently  it has little value. Besides that, people are somehow seeing athletic departments as equal in all of this. There is a huge difference between Mid-American schools and SEC schools. Hell, there is a huge difference between Northwestern and Ohio State. 50% of the schools currently playing IA football have no market value.

For me, what is killing college sports is commercialization and money. I'm not sure more commercialization and money fixes the problem. However, Moose does present and interesting complication...other scholarship students can use their talent to generate additional revenue for themselves.

As far as the ruling goes, in the long run it is probably best, for tax purposes, that scholarship athletes are not considered employees.

What other group of people shouldn't be paid in your opinion? Lets not allow students at Universities to go out and earn money while trying to obtain a degree.

I am all for scholarship athletes receiving full cost of attendance, but unfortunately that is not equal between schools and could put some schools at an advantage over others.

[Motown Spartan]

It's slave labor and abuse. Look how Jim Harbaugh cut kids loose because they're hurt.

Fuck that, at minimum. Colleges should be on the hook for life time health insurance and 1k a month spending money while in college.

I agree they should be paid but don't call it slave labor. Nobody is forcing them to play.

[DWags]

It's slave labor and abuse. Look how Jim Harbaugh cut kids loose because they're hurt.

Fuck that, at minimum. Colleges should be on the hook for life time health insurance and 1k a month spending money while in college.

I agree they should be paid but don't call it slave labor. Nobody is forcing them to play.

Really? You didn't see what Hoke did to sugar Shane against Minnesota?

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