Illinois Policy Institute labor expert Paul Kersey available to comment on college athlete unionization vote
WHAT: Northwestern University football players are scheduled to vote today (Friday, Apr. 25) on whether they will be represented as university employees by a union. This vote will have a dramatic impact on college athletics nationwide.
WHO: Paul Kersey, Director of Labor Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute, is available to comment on the vote and push for unionization. Paul Kersey is a national labor policy expert based in Chicago who has researched this issue extensively.
For bookings, contact Diana Rickert or Nathaniel Hamilton 312-607-4977.
EXPERT PAUL KERSEY’S TAKE:
*It’s debatable whether unionizing will really help players achieve the benefits they are seeking.
*Northwestern University is the athletes’ “employer”, but the players biggest complaints are against the NCAA, so the union would be bargaining with the wrong people.
*Players would have more flexibility if they found an alternative to unionizing. They could go directly to the NCAA or Congress and lobby for the changes they want. The players have a lot of support from the general public and sports fans, and that’s a lot more valuable than any union could be, but that public favor could fade if they go through with unionizing
For interviews: Diana Rickert or Nathaniel Hamilton (312) 607-4977