House Labor Committee Holds Hearing on Student-Athlete Unionization

The House Education and the Workforce Committee today held a hearing that examined the NLRB’s March 26 decision that classifies certain student athletes as “employees” for the purposes of collective bargaining.  The hearing gave Committee members an “opportunity to examine this unprecedented decision, as well as how it affects student athletes and their ability to receive a quality education.”

“The NLRB’s decision represents a radical departure from longstanding federal labor policies,” said Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN).  “Classifying student athletes as employees threatens to fundamentally alter college sports, as well as reduce education access and opportunity.  The committee has a responsibility to thoroughly examine how the NLRB’s decision will affect students and their ability to receive a quality education.”

The Witness List included:

The Honorable Ken Starr — President and Chancellor, Baylor University, Waco, TX

Mr. Bradford L. Livingston — Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Chicago, IL

Mr. Andy Schwarz — Partner, OSKR, LLC, Emeryville, CA

Mr. Bernard M. Muir — Director of Athletics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Mr. Patrick C. Eilers — Managing Director, Madison Dearborn Partners, Chicago, IL

Click here for a link to Opening Statement by Chairman Kline.