• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

Dartmouth Refuses to Bargain With Newly Formed Men’s Basketball Player Union

  • Two weeks ago, Dartmouth men’s basketball players voted to form a union.
  • The school has taken the next step in a lengthy, two-pronged appeals process to stop the players union.
Alison A. Redlich, for USA TODAY via Imagn Content Services, LLC

On Monday, Dartmouth announced it would not engage in collective bargaining negotiations with men’s basketball players, who voted to unionize two weeks ago. The historic union vote, allowing all 15 players to become members of the Service Employees International Union Local 560 chapter, was certified by the National Labor Relations Board just last week.

The news was expected, and it is yet another step in a lengthy, two-pronged appeals process through which Dartmouth will fight varsity player unionization. That process could take several years and go all the way up to the Supreme Court. (It is one of several labor and antitrust cases challenging amateurism, all of which could come to a head over the next few years.)

The Dartmouth unionization effort, which also recognizes players as employees, would unravel the NCAA’s business model of amateurism if it succeeds. Players would be entitled to everything from wages and augmented health-care benefits to employee protections like workers’ compensation. That’s probably why the school has never fought a unionization effort as hard as administrators are fighting the players union. The school called the refusal to bargain an “unprecedented” step in its history with SEIU. 

“While we continue to negotiate in good faith with multiple unions representing Dartmouth employees, our responsibility to future generations of students means we must explore all our legal options for challenging the regional director’s legal error,” the school said in a statement.

Dartmouth has already filed a formal appeal of the player organizing effort with the NLRB’s national board, and it previously tried to get the vote stopped and case dismissed. It is refusing to collectively bargain in order to trigger another legal mechanism: SEIU Local 560 will file an unfair labor practice charge against the school, a separate but related case that could be appealed into the federal court system.

Late on Monday, Local 560 issued a statement on the matter, saying: “We are disappointed Dartmouth has taken the highly unusual step of publicly declaring its intention to flout the law, even inviting players to file an unfair labor practice. … That the school will refuse to negotiate with 15 campus employees is not only illegal, but also immoral. An $8 billion institution is saying it will ignore the law to avoid negotiating over wages and other working conditions with the young men who exorcised their right to form a union. Dartmouth College is snubbing its nose at the NLRB and refusing to allow its directives. It isn’t right and it contravenes Dartmouth’s stated values.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

Manfred Says MLB Had Wrong Approach to Creators Like Jomboy

“You gotta go where people are going,” the commissioner said.
(NCL_OSU_11_SUGAR_LAURON 04JAN11) Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) slips around the Arkansas Razorbacks defense during first half of the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, January 4, 2011.

Terrelle Pryor’s Case for NIL Backpay Dismissed in Court

Pryor played seven years in the NFL after leaving OSU amid a scandal.

Featured Today

Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
Mar 21, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Memphis Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway walks off the court after losing to Colorado State Rams at Climate Pledge Arena.

Memphis Basketball and Softball Placed on NCAA Probation

Memphis has had multiple NCAA issues since hiring Penny Hardaway.
July 16, 2025

Alabama’s New Era Contends With NIL—and Nick Saban Rumors

Kalen DeBoer is entering his second season as head coach.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
July 16, 2025

President Trump Is Actively Working on an NIL-Related Executive Order

It’s unclear what the executive order would include.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian waits to lead his team out of the tunnel ahead of the Longhorns' game against the Baylor Bears, Saturday, Sept. 23 at McLane Stadium in Waco.
July 15, 2025

Is a Texas Takeover About to Hit the SEC, On and Off..

The Longhorns are favored to win the SEC in their second year in the conference.
Georgia takes the field for the first half of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
July 15, 2025

SEC Lands Starring Role in Netflix College Football Docuseries

Netflix brings its sports storytelling to the heart of SEC football.
May 15, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; United States Capitol seen as People rally outside the Supreme Court before justices hears oral arguments in Trump v. CASA, Inc. At issue in the case is if the Supreme Court should stay the district courts' nationwide preliminary injunctions on the Trump administration’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.
July 15, 2025

Pro-NCAA Bill Takes First Step Toward Being Introduced on House Floor for..

It could be the first bill of its kind to make it to the House floor.