April 7, 2014
Representative Pat Dillon is prepared to file legislation to allow athletes at Connecticut's public colleges and universities to unionize.
The National College Athletes Players Association, led by Ramogi Huma, petitioned the National Labor Relations Board in Chicago seeking to have Northwestern University's football team recognized as a union. NLRB ruled that the football players should be considered employees with the right to organize.
It appears that state law may be an impediment. NLRB ruled that athletes at private schools have the right to unionize, but said state labor laws may prohibit public school students from organizing.
Rep. Dillon said it should be the athletes' choice whether to join a union – but the state has an obligation to remove any barriers.
Rep. Dillon and Mr. Huma worked together on legislation in 2011 to protect the rights of athletes by forcing schools clearly disclose the fine print of scholarship agreements.
