1. Do you support the unionization of college athletes? Explain.
2. What obstacles might a college athletes’ union face in negotiating with a university? Explain.
In 2014, Peter Ohr, a regional director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), ruled that Northwestern University football players are university employees and are therefore able to form the first college athletes’ union. The NCAA has treated college athletes as students first, and as athletes second; therefore, the NCAA believes these players should not be treated as employees. In ruling that these players are actually athletes first, Ohr noted that the athletes’ duties to the university’s team require 40 to 50 hours per week during the football season, which is not only more than what many other full- time employees spend on their jobs, but is more than the players spent on their studies. At this writing, Northwestern University plans to appeal this ruling.