In bid to shake up college sports, Dartmouth men’s basketball team seeks to form union

Members of the Dartmouth College men’s basketball team filed a petition this week seeking recognition as a labor union which, if granted, would be the first student-athlete union in the country.

On Wednesday, the local chapter of the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of 15 Dartmouth players, noting that a significant number of the team sought recognition.

In 2014, Northwestern University’s football squad sought recognition as a union, but the NLRB ultimately denied the request, while punting on deciding if the school’s scholarship athletes should be classified as university employees.

It isn’t clear what prompted Dartmouth’s athletes to seek unionization, or what they would advocate for through a collectively bargained contract. The SEIU didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Dartmouth College issued a statement saying the school has “the utmost respect for our students and for unions generally. We are carefully considering this petition with the aim of responding promptly yet thoughtfully in accordance with Dartmouth’s educational mission and priorities.”