Panelists Say Union Bids by Student Athletes, Grad Assistants Raise an Array of Questions

Cases involving universities’ treatment of student athletes and graduate assistants—specifically, whether they’re employees with the right to organize or students who are compensated in the form of scholarships—raise questions beyond those contained in the legal filings, panelists said Oct. 16 at a symposium on labor law at Wayne State University in Detroit.

College football players, who are recruited for their playing prowess, required to devote time to football, and compensated in the form of scholarships, clearly meet the National Labor Relations Board’s definition of employees, said John Adam of Royal Oak, Mich.-based Legghio & Israel. Adam represents a group of ...