Rokita: Collective Bargaining for Student Athletes "Not Intention" of Labor Law

Press Release

Representative Todd Rokita, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education participated in an Education and Workforce Committee hearing titled "Big Labor on College Campuses: Examining the Consequences of Unionizing Student Athletes." The hearing was scheduled due to a recent decision by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that classified certain student athletes at Northwestern University as "employees" for the purposes of collective bargaining.

Rokita's questioning of witnesses focused on the unintended consequences of the misguided interpretation of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) by the NLRB. He also queried witnesses on the impact of athlete collective bargaining on Hoosier schools like Purdue and St. Joseph's College. One witnessed testified that it could jeopardize athletics and scholarships for Division II schools like St. Joseph's, where Rokita serves as a board member. Testimony from the witnesses made it clear that the NLRB has opened Pandora's box for these athletes and universities.

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