NLRB Official Rules Dartmouth Basketball Players as Employees, Paving Way for NCAA's First Union

The landmark decision could transform college sports, challenging the NCAA's amateur model and potentially leading to widespread unionization across leagues.

A National Labor Relations Board official ruled Dartmouth basketball players are employees, setting the stage for the first-ever labor union for NCAA athletes.
Dartmouth plans to appeal the decision, which could delay a final resolution for years, even as the players seek $20 an hour and health care premiums.
The ruling could have far-reaching implications for college sports, challenging the NCAA's amateur model and potentially leading to unions across the Ivy League and beyond.
The Dartmouth players' unionization effort is supported by the Service Employees International Union, highlighting the broader movement for economic and racial justice.
The NCAA is facing multiple legal and political challenges to its model, including antitrust lawsuits and a Supreme Court ruling that opened the door for athlete compensation.