The National Labor Relations Board will investigate an unfair labor practice complaint involving the rights of University of Southern California football and basketball players.
In February, the National College Players Association filed an unfair labor practice charge against USC, the Pac-12 Conference and the NCAA alleging misclassification of college players as “student-athletes” and other violations.
The NLRB’s Region 21 in Los Angeles will look into the complaint that covers football and men’s and women’s basketball players at the private school.
“This matter remains at an initial stage, and no final ruling will be issued until there has been a full hearing based on all the relevant facts and law,” USC said in a statement Thursday. “We look forward to presenting those facts, along with 75 years of favorable legal precedent, at the appropriate time.”
At the request of the NLRB’s Division of Advice, the players association agreed to withdraw its unfair labor practice charge against UCLA while vowing to continue its fight to gain employee status and rights for football and basketball players at public universities.
“We are working to make sure college athletes are treated fairly in both the education and business aspects of college sports,” players association executive director Ramogi Huma said in a statement. “Gaining employee status and the right to organize is an important part in ending NCAA sports’ business practices that illegally exploit college athletes’ labor.”