Kline to hold hearing on unions in college sports

WASHINGTON - Can a college quarterback also also be a union steward? That's sure to be a question that will come up at a hearing scheduled for next week by Rep. John Kline, the Minnesota Republican who chairs the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee.

Some background: In March, the National Labor Relations Board authorized football players at Northwestern University to hold a vote on whether to form a union. The players voted last month though the results won't be counted until the NLRB hears an appeal from the university.

Kline's committee has been central to a GOP push to pare back what Republicans see as the power of labor unions.

In a statement issued by the committee, Kline previewed a likely line of criticism Republicans will launch at the NLRB.

"The NLRB’s decision represents a radical departure from longstanding federal labor policies," said Kline. “Classifying student athletes as employees threatens to fundamentally alter college sports, as well as reduce education access and opportunity."

The hearing will take place on May 8 in Washington, DC.

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