By OkayGoal
There is no doubt that the development of name, image, and likeness (NIL) has changed the landscape of collegiate athletics. While college athletes are not allowed to be paid to play, they can now make money by controlling how their image is used commercially. NIL deals come in all different forms, but many of them include social media endorsements, commercials, and personalized merchandise. The newfound money involved with college sports has motivated more athletes to stay in school and even transfer to a school with more NIL money potential.
Despite athletes making money through other avenues, the NCAA relies on their players’ labor. Student athletes essentially function as employees of the NCAA. However, currently, there are no enforceable rules, safety protections, or labor rights for athletes. This is why college athletes throughout the country have come together to create the United College Athletes Association (UCAA).
What is the UCAA and who is in charge?
The United College Athletes Association (UCAA) is the first labor union for college athletes that is registered as a 501(c)(5) nonprofit organization. Its mission is “to protect, organize, and represent college athletes as humans, students, and workers through collective bargaining.” The UCAA is meant to function similarly to other professional league unions such as the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA).
The union is a membership organization that is run by democratic procedures and jointly owned by its members. Members vote to elect a governing board that oversees daily operations and serves as the union’s front-facing representatives.
The UCAA’s interim executive committee currently consists of nine women’s collegiate basketball players from across the country and is advised by influential figures in professional sports. Some of these figures include Nneka Ogwumike, who’s an 11-time WNBA All-Star and WNBPA President, NWSLPA Executive Director Meghann Burke, and Domonique Foxworth, a former NFL player and NFLPA President.
“The labor movement is stronger when college athletes have a seat at the table, and I’m proud to stand with them,” Burke said.
O’Donoghue & O’Donoghue also represents the UCAA. It is a distinguished law firm that focuses on “high-quality representation of labor unions and employee benefit funds.” O’Donoghue & O’Donoghue was established in 1935 and has offices throughout the East Coast.
How will the UCAA help college athletes?
The UCAA’s main goal as a labor union is to create a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that gives players a voice when it comes to their working conditions and compensation. The CBA will help advocate for college athletes and maintain consistent structure throughout the NCAA. Typically, CBAs set employee wages, define working hours and conditions, explain employee benefits, outline conflict resolution, and govern job security.
All major professional sports leagues in the United States have a CBA that is negotiated between respective players’ unions and leagues. Some landmark CBA negotiations include the 2026 WNBA CBA and the 2024 NWSL CBA. Both negotiations resulted in increased player wages, elevated health and family-planning benefits, expanded broadcast rights, and more.
While the UCAA is hoping to model after other league CBAs, there are a few differences in negotiating with college athletes and universities. On top of fair compensation and safety mandates, the UCAA is fighting for transferable credits, guaranteed insurance, scholarship protections, and transfer protections. These stipulations help protect student athletes in their daily lives and if they choose to enter the transfer portal.
Who is eligible to join the UCAA?
All college athletes who compete for a school in the United States are eligible to join the UCAA. This also includes international students playing for American colleges, because they have the same legal rights as U.S. citizens.
To join the UCAA, athletes must sign a union card, and they can do so on the UCAA website. Signing a union card is completely confidential for athletes, so the NCAA, their coaches, and universities will not know whether or not they joined the union unless the athlete chooses to sign publicly. Universities and the NCAA are also not allowed to retaliate against athletes who join the UCAA, because all employees have the right to create and join a labor union.
Featured image via UCAA.