The National Labor Relations Committee on Friday revoked a memorandum issued by his Biden administration predecessor.
Friday’s memorandum from Trump administration William B. Cowen has revoked a series of memorandums issued by Jennifer Abruzzo.
University athletes “service for the institution in return for compensation and () are subject to their control.
“The conclusion therefore is that the law, the policies underlying the NLRA, the board and common laws are certain (university athletes) who are legal employees and have the right to act collectively to improve conditions. I fully support the terms of employment.”
Friday’s memorandum goes against the backdrop of years of efforts by the NCAA, conferences and universities to pursue federal laws that prevent university athletes from becoming school employees. The bill for its effectiveness passed a US House Committee on the House of Representatives in June 2024, but it wasn’t too far.
The new memo comes two days after the new Trump administration’s education division retracts guidance issued on the last day of the Biden administration’s education division. Win a title in IX Gender Equity Policy.
In his memorandum on Friday, Cowen wrote: Despite these efforts, we have seen cases backlogs grow to such a degree that they are no longer sustainable. The unfortunate truth is that if you try to achieve everything, you risk not achieving anything.
“Since working with experienced field and headquarters experts to envision the role of a proxy advisor, I have conducted a comprehensive review of the general counsel memos and conducted university athlete memos. We have decided that the following actions, including receiving, are justified.”
Abruzzo’s memorandum helped set up complaints by the NLRB’s Los Angeles office against the NCAA, Pac-12 conference and the University of Southern California. “Not an employee.
Both of these efforts were abandoned in December and January, respectively. It is likely to be made up of under the then Trump administration, primarily due to concerns that a disadvantageous decision by the full NLRB would carry the weight of future precedents.
Complaints against the NCAA, Pac-12 and USC revolved specifically around USC soccer, male basketball and women’s basketball athletes. However, it had a much broader potential for impact across university sports college sports.
The National Labor Relations Act applies to private employers. The complaint sought to interconnect the NCAA and major college sports conferences, both private nonprofits. College athletes have NCAA and/or Conference: Private Employers. It could have opened the door to the potential for unionization efforts by public school athletes.