TJHN was the first to report on the ill fated Canadian Hockey League Players Association in the summer of 2012. While the effort failed, and the motives behind the effort were questioned, no one will question the effort of motives of the College Athletes Players Association.
While not lead or organized by hockey players, the proposed union seeking certification would, if approved, inevitably include hockey players at the NCAA level.
Is it real? It certainly is.
NCAA players have never had a seat at the table when it comes to negotiating anything. They get their scholarships, they show up, and they represent their school in competition. But they have no say in any rule making, conference organizing, travel, safety, or any other items that directly impact them.
Northwestern University, a Big 10 school and major player in college sports. It will now be seen as the place where the NCAA is being put on notice that athletes want, and deserve a seat at the table.
College Athletes Players Association (CAPA) is backed by the United Steelworkers. International President, Leo Gerard, and national political director, Tim Waters, were in Chicago to assist in the filing process. CAPA is looking to represent only football and men’s basketball players initially, but other sports will surely follow.
Paperwork signed by the majority of the current Northwestern Wildcats football team was submitted yesterday to the Chicago office of the National Labor Relations Board. Membership cards filled out by individual players declared they wished to be represented by the newly formed CAPA against Northwestern University.
The athletes allege that they are indeed employee’s of Northwestern and that they are compensated for their labor in the form of scholarships, room, board, medical care and other items. Though CAPA is not looking for financial compensation for athletes at this time, it is an item that is sure to come up in the future.
If approved by the NLRB, the CAPA would quickly spread throughout every sport at every private university in the United States. State University’s looking to join CAPA would have to appear before and become certified by their state labor board. Young men and women would then have a seat at the table and be involved in the governing of their sports.
Unfortunately, this is another government process that will take time. It could easily take years before anyone knows the answer of whether or not CAPA will actually be recognized or if other programs follow suit.
It make take time, but time is something that NCAA student athletes have. They are young, they are bright, and the institutions they represent are providing them with great educations. Ironic that such well educated athletes are now using that knowledge to protect themselves from those who provide that knowledge.
TJHN will update this story as more information develops.
Joseph Kolodziej – Publisher
