Northwestern Football' Union Vote to Take Place Friday, Results to Be 'Impounded' During School's Appeal

The Northwestern football team will vote Friday on weather or not to form a workers' union, but the results will be wrapped up until the school's appeal is resolved.

According to the Washington Post, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) granted Northwestern's request of staying the ruling. In a statement on their website Thursday, the NLRB announced they would hold the union elections Friday for the team and hold the results until the appeal was heard.

"The Regional Director found the University's grant-in-aid scholarship football players are employees under the National Labor Relations Act. The election will take place on April 25, 2014 but the ballots will be impounded until the Board issues a decision affirming, modifying or reversing the Regional Director's decision," the NLRB's statement said. "The Board intends to issue a subsequent notice establishing a schedule for the filing of briefs on review and inviting amicus briefs, to afford the parties and interested amici the opportunity to address issues raised in this case."

After the NLRB's decision was handed down in Chicago, Northwestern filed an appeal with the Washington D.C. office. Northwestern University, head football coach Pat Fitzgerald and the NCAA have been outspokenly against unions in college sports.

"This is not the same thing as organizing a steel mill. This is a university," Terry W. Hartle, senior vice president at the American Council on Education, which represents colleges and universities, told the WP. "We think that students are students. They are not employees."

CLICK HERE to read USA Today's full summary of the Northwestern unionization bid.

The NCAA is facing two lawsuits, both relating to using players' name and likeness without compensation. Combined with the NLRB's decision, the NCAA's model of amateurism is being seriously challenged. If the Northwestern football team does form a union, college sports teams around the country could suddenly feel empowered to file similar petitions.

Stanford University, like several schools in the nation, is known for its athletic and academic prowess. Stanford is also on record as taking a special interest in the Northwestern case.

"We strongly believe that student-athletes at Stanford are students first and foremost," Stanford spokesman Brad Hayward told the WP. "They must meet the same high standards for admission and academic performance as all other students. We work very hard to ensure that the academic and athletic experiences of our student-athletes are excellent and properly supported, and that their Stanford education will provide them with outstanding preparation for success in the broader world."