A second unfair labor practice complaint was filed Tuesday against the NCAA, this one attempting to capitalize on a September ruling by the National Labor Relations Board that could eventually lead to college athletes becoming employees of their universities.
The California-based National College Players Association (NCPA) filed the complaint with the NLRB naming not only the NCAA but the Pac-12, UCLA, USC, and all Division I football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball programs as complainants.
“The goal is to affirm college athlete employee status for every FBS football player and Division I basketball player at every public and private university in the nation,” the NCPA said in a statement.
The NCPA’s move comes three months after the College Basketball Players Association (CPBA) filed a similar unfair labor charge against the NCAA for classifying college players as “student-athletes”.
Taken together, the two complaints continue the momentum towards a conclusion some consider inevitable: college players becoming become employees paid directly by their universities.
“One way or another, I feel like it’s more of a freight train now. No one can explain exactly how it’s going to unfold, but the direction is clear,” NCPA executive director Ramogi Huma told CBS Sports.
In September 2021, the NLRB general counsel issued a memorandum setting the stage for institutions for college athletes to be paid directly by their institutions, thus becoming employees.
For the NLRB to move forward, there had to be formal complaints. In November, the CPBA filed the first complaint from Michael Hsu, a former University of Minnesota regent and co-founder of the organization.
On Tuesday, Huma followed up. A former UCLA player, he has been a…
..
