Michigan Lawmakers Propose Union Rights for University Athletes
In a groundbreaking move, Michigan’s state legislators are considering bills that could redefine the status of student-athletes at public universities. The proposed legislation aims to empower these athletes, granting them the right to unionize and negotiate their working conditions.
The bills, introduced by Democratic representatives, seek to categorize student-athletes as university employees. This shift would open the door for collective bargaining over critical issues such as revenue sharing, training conditions, and name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements.
Former Michigan State University football player and now state Representative Joe Tate (D-Detroit) expressed that student-athletes contribute significantly to their universities’ financial success. He noted, “It’s this revenue coming in, and just kind of that explosion there, and student-athletes not being able to take advantage of that.”
This legislative initiative follows a settlement agreement between the NCAA and Division 1 schools, including Michigan State University, regarding revenue sharing with athletes.
Earlier in the year, the National Labor Relations Board, influenced by the previous administration, rescinded a 2021 memorandum that recognized college athletes as employees with rights to collective bargaining. This followed the dismissal of the NLRB attorney responsible for the memo under the Trump administration.
Thomas Dieters, who negotiates NIL deals for college athletes, including Michigan State University’s women’s gymnastics team, commented on the evolving landscape: “Welcome to the future because now that there’s billions of dollars pouring into these schools, these athletic departments for sports entertainment, it is professional.”
The proposed bills would not only allow the formation of labor unions by student-athletes but would also facilitate collective bargaining and bolster rights to secure NIL deals. Notably, the legislation does not impose academic requirements for eligibility, a point emphasized by state Representative Carry Rheingans (D-Ann Arbor).
Rheingans explained that the bills intentionally leave room for negotiation: “That’s so the students and their labor organizers and the universities and the athletic departments would be able to negotiate the terms of the contract.”
Even athletes at smaller state universities could benefit from these changes, as negotiations could include ticket revenue shares, training conditions, and medical benefits, according to Rheingans.
However, legislative Republicans, who currently hold sway in the Michigan House, remain skeptical of the unionization of student-athletes. Representative Gerald Van Woerkom (R-Norton Shores) voiced concerns, stating, “I think there’s much more interest in getting roads funding done and getting the school budget done than in letting student-athletes form a union.”
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