Thursday, March 27, 2014

NLRB Director for Region 13 issues Decision in Northwestern University Athletes Case



GMCS Editorial:  Now that the NLRB has defined the employer/employee relationship as such in this case, the question that needs to be asked is what are the implications of this decision on collegiate sports and other industries moving forward?  As they have now been defined as employees, will college athletes now file worker’s compensation claims for injuries sustained in the course of playing?  While we can look at the NFL for guidance in this case, it still begs to question, what can of worms have we opened up here and what is the future of college sports?

Interestingly enough, we are seeing a pattern here of decision redefining the employee/employer relationships most recently with resident doctors and graduate school assistants.

The most important underlying issue in this decision is that the interpretation of “employee’ can be quite expansive in this case.  Keep an eye on this as it continues to develop.

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March 26, 2014

Regional Director, Peter Sung Ohr, has issued a Decision in 13-RC-121359 finding the Grant-in-aid scholarship football players are employees under the NLRA and has directed an election to take place.

The parties have until April 9, 2014 to file with the Board in Washington, D.C. a Request for Review of the Decision.

The Decision is posted on the NLRB webpage and can be found here.

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