BOSTON — The efforts of the Dartmouth men’s basketball team to unionize came to an end on Tuesday, halting their pursuit to become the pioneering college athletes to negotiate a contract. This shift in strategy arises as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is expected to soon be under Republican control, creating concerns about the potential impact on their cause.
The Service Employees International Union Local 560 submitted a request to retract their petition before the NLRB, as the chances of receiving fair treatment from a labor board viewed as unfavorable were increasingly uncertain with the forthcoming presidential administration. Subsequently, the regional director sanctioned this withdrawal later that same day.
Despite this setback, Chris Peck, the local president, affirmed their ongoing commitment to advocate for just compensation, comprehensive health coverage, and safe working conditions for varsity athletes at Dartmouth. Peck characterized collective bargaining as the “only viable pathway to address issues” concerning college athletics in contemporary contexts.
Although the NCAA regards athletes as “student-athletes,” members of the Dartmouth team filed a petition for unionization in 2023, asserting that the control exercised by the New Hampshire institution over their schedules and work conditions qualified them as employees under legal definitions. This assertion received validation from a regional NLRB official, and the team subsequently voted to join SEIU Local 560 by a margin of 13-2 in March.
Dartmouth, however, expressed its intention to refuse negotiations with the players, aiming to escalate the dispute to federal court. For players to engage in discussions at the bargaining table, they would first require favorable rulings from an NLRB that is set to be reshaped by the incoming administration. The board currently has two vacancies awaiting appointments by President-elect Donald Trump following his inauguration on January 20.
In its response, the school contested the classification of players as employees, labeling it “incorrect and not supported by legal precedent.” Dartmouth stated that it maintains productive relationships with existing unions on campus and holds a deep respect for its unionized workforce. However, in this unique instance, Dartmouth deemed unionization inappropriate. The university pledged continued support for the men’s basketball team and all student-athletes in their endeavors, which augment their academic experiences.
Cade Haskins and Romeo Myrthil, the players who initiated the unionization effort, were not immediately available for comment. Nevertheless, the union commended their contributions, highlighting how the withdrawal of the petition aims to safeguard the significant precedent established by the men’s varsity basketball team. Peck noted that these athletes have advanced discussions on employee rights and collective bargaining in college sports, achieving a milestone by being recognized as employees, successfully winning their union election, and forming the nation’s first certified bargaining unit for college athletes.
The Dartmouth case posed a substantial challenge to the NCAA’s amateurism model, which has seen players historically remain unpaid even as college sports burgeoned into a multibillion-dollar enterprise benefiting coaches and institutions. Recent court rulings have weakened this model, now allowing players to monetize their name, image, and likeness, in addition to receiving limited stipends for living expenses beyond tuition costs. The NCAA has been actively lobbying Congress to maintain the amateur structure, especially as Republican dominion appears more attainable.
Both sides acknowledge that the existing framework is at significant risk. The establishment of a college athletes union would represent an unprecedented shift in American sports. Previous attempts at unionizing the Northwestern football team faced hurdles, particularly from rival public universities in the Big Ten Conference that fall outside NLRB jurisdiction. Additionally, another complaint before the NLRB seeks to classify football and basketball players at Southern California as employees of their respective institution, the Pac-12 conference, and the NCAA.
