Rich Cohen was quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article, "College Athletes Union Raises Tax, Discrimination Questions." Full text can be found in the April 6, 2014, issue, but a synopsis is noted below.
A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision that classified football players as university employees could have a lasting impact on amateur sports, including changes in the rules for taxing athletic scholarships and opening up universities to hostile work environment claims.
As employees, college athletes would be covered under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, gender or national origin.
According to Rich Cohen, by declaring athletes as employees, the NLRB gives them protection under Title VII that they are not currently afforded. "It's clear that Title VII applies only to employees," he said.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has its own test to determine what qualifies as employment, Cohen said. But the NLRB finding could have an influence on the decisions of other agencies.
Originally published by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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