Northwestern players file petition to form a union
Northwestern players have filed a petition with the NLRB to be recognized as a union. It appears that this was in part led by Kain Colter. Will be interesting to see how this plays out, as this, along witht he O'Bannon case, could have huge ramifications.
http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/10363430/outside-lines-northwest…
January 28th, 2014 at 6:46 PM ^
Because that's not the way I believe these situations should be run. The employees (not that I feel that's what a studant athlete is, but as an analogy) don't tell their employer how to run the company. They are offered a job. If they like it, they take it. If they don't, they don't.
High school football players are given an offer. If they don't like it, don't accept it. This is college football. You can go to play college football and go to college for free, or not do that. I'm just not sympathetic to this at all.
January 28th, 2014 at 10:27 PM ^
I guess we just fundamentally disagree. Employees don't tell their employer how to run their company, but in almost all situatiions, they negotiate the conditions of their employment. In almost all situations, there are competitors who force employers to make an acceptable deal with the employees in order to get them to chose to work for them over the competition. But, since there is no legitimate compeition / other option, the employer in college football is allowed to set its terms and the employees have no other course of action. I think this is fundamentally wrong.
January 28th, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^
of kids that participated in one type of sport or another are denied the chance to even look at an LOI much less sign one. Should they also be forming unions as to force universities to compensate them?
If football players really want compensation they should band together in a class action suit and sue the NFL for the chance to be drafted out of HS.
January 28th, 2014 at 6:49 PM ^
I agree with this. That's the change that needs to be made. Don't ruin college football because the NFL won't let you play.
January 28th, 2014 at 12:24 PM ^
What with the contract and all. So they can unionize if they want to.
January 28th, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
A contract is a contract. The contract may have been one-sided but he still signed it anyway. Interesting that the movement is backed by the United Steel Workers of America.
January 28th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^
For every single person in college athletics a contract is a contract. That's why Bobby Petrino coaches the Falcons, Saban is at LSU, Franklin is at Vandy, RR won the sugar bowl, and every other coach, while making millions of dollars, honors their contract while the school does the same.
January 28th, 2014 at 1:34 PM ^
Using a buyout clause that is written into a contract IS "honoring their contract while the school does the same".
January 28th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
How is incredibly one sided? What if Coulter got injured his freshman year of college and couldn't play again? NW could medical him, and then he still gets his free education without playing anymore. I don't know if he gets medical expenses covered (I think he should). But it's only 'one sided' because Coulter became the face of the program. What about all the other kids who never step on the field and don't bring in money for the program. NW has invested a lot of education and training into them with little/no return in terms of the game tickets/TV watches/jersey sales that everyone wants to measure these things by. For every one Coulter there's many more sideline non-money making dude.
January 28th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
It's one sided for everyone. Not just the play-football-for-education part. It's the "give up all your rights" part. What if Coulter wanted to transfer because he wasn't happy? What if his coach left for a better paying job? What if he, i don't know, for example put out a mix tape? Boom, eligibility gone, no free education for you, sucks for you.
January 28th, 2014 at 11:26 AM ^
FYI "/s" in an indication of sarcasm.
January 28th, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
So simple minded. He gets a scholarship for one year. What he brings to Northwestern is more than the value of that scholarship. If a normal student can benefit from his likeness, why can't Kain?
January 28th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^
Like the school is profiting from the likenes of Kain Colter.... Maybe if he were more on the level of a Manziel or Clowney. I doubt Kolter would be complaining if he were a projected first or second round draft pick.
January 28th, 2014 at 12:40 PM ^