In a bold move, Dartmouth College has declared that it will not engage in collective bargaining with the union representing its men’s basketball players. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 560, which also represents other unionized employees at Dartmouth, had successfully secured the right for the basketball players to vote on joining the union.
“Given Dartmouth’s decades-long commitment to athletics as an extension of our academic mission, we believe the regional director has made an extraordinary mistake in finding these students are employees,” the school said in its statement, which called the players “students whose educational program includes athletics.”
Dartmouth’s refusal stems from its firm belief that athletes in the Ivy League are not employees. This stance directly contradicts the recent ruling by a regional director of the National Labor Relations Board, who recognized the basketball players as employees, paving the way for their unionization.
The Impact on Dartmouth College
The implications of this decision are significant. By rejecting collective bargaining, Dartmouth College risks escalating the matter to federal court. The clash between the university’s position and the player’s desire for representation adds tension to an already contentious situation.
“From a procedural standpoint, if the full NLRB refuses to overturn the regional director’s decision, Dartmouth’s only remaining option to challenge this legal error is to engage in a technical refusal to bargain, an unprecedented step in our long history of labor negotiations,” the school said. “This will likely result in SEIU Local 560 filing an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB, which we would appeal. This is the only lever Dartmouth has to get this matter reviewed by a federal court.”
As the basketball season unfolds, the spotlight will remain on Dartmouth College. The players, now part of a union, face uncertainty about their rights, benefits, and future negotiations. Meanwhile, the college must navigate the legal complexities and uphold its stance on student-athlete status.
The hardwood battle isn’t confined to the court; it spills into boardrooms, courtrooms, and the hearts of those who believe in the rights of collegiate athletes. Dartmouth’s decision reverberates beyond Hanover, echoing across the landscape of college sports.
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