G League players organized and formed their union with the help of the National Basketball Players Association, the NBPA announced on Tuesday.
The union will be temporarily called the Basketball Players Union and around 80% of G League players voted to authorize the BPU to act as a collective bargaining representative. To form the union, over 50% of players had to sign an electronic authorization card. The G League has agreed to voluntarily recognize BPU as a player representative.
“I couldn’t be more excited or impressed by this decision from the G League players,” said Michele Roberts, NBPA executive director. “Like their brothers in the NBPA, these players work tirelessly to perfect their craft and will now have a voice in decisions related to their working conditions, benefits and more.”
As employees represented by the union, players will have the right to collectively bargain on various issues, including wages, benefits and other working conditions. The BPU will represent all players in the G League, including those of the newly formed team selected. The NBPA has said it will continue to represent NBA players with two-way contracts or positions in G League teams.
In February, the NBPA Board of Representatives voted to support union training for G League players. NBPA is certified by the National Labor Relations Board as an exclusive union for all NBA players.
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