After Dartmouth win, right to organize key to addressing inequity in college and global sport

Nyon, Switzerland. The decision of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Regional Director to recognize the Dartmouth College men’s basketball team as employees is the latest in a series of rulings which reaffirms the rights of athletes to organize and collectively bargain their terms and conditions of work and play.

While more is to be done, the ruling is an important step towards enhancing player rights protections across a range of issues and addressing the major pockets of inequity which continue to exist in college sports in the United States and the global sport industry at large.

All actors must fulfil their responsibilities to protect, respect and uphold the right to organize and collectively bargain, which history overwhelmingly demonstrates has been a win-win for both the players and the growth and prosperity of global sport.

The World Players Association expresses its support for the brave players at Dartmouth – and all athletes committed to leaving their sports and workplaces – in a better position for the next generation of athletes to come.

-ENDS-

The World Players Association, part of UNI Global Union, is the exclusive global voice of organized players and athletes across professional sport. It brings together 85,000 players through more than 100 player associations in over 60 countries. Its role is to ensure that the voice of organized players is heard at the highest levels in the decision-making of international sport.