The Appeal of Unions is a Symptom, Not a Solution

The Appeal of Unions in Athletic Training Is a Symptom, Not a Solution

Unions look appealing to many athletic trainers; and honestly, it’s easy to see why.

When you’ve been overworked, underpaid, and undervalued, collective power feels like the only path forward.

But maybe the reason unionization looks like salvation isn’t because it’s the right fit for our profession, it’s because most athletic trainers were never taught how to operate in a free market.

We know how to document injuries, manage emergencies, and communicate with physicians.

But few ATs were ever taught how to:

🎯 Negotiate compensation

🎯 Calculate their value to an organization

🎯 Read a contract

🎯 Understand labor economics

🎯 Advocate for fair market rates

Without that foundation, the promise of a union feels like protection. A safety net against the uncertainty of business and negotiation.

But here’s the catch: lack of business knowledge shouldn’t push us toward collective dependence; it should push us toward education.

If athletic trainers learned to think like healthcare entrepreneurs through understanding revenue, outcomes, and market demand we’d have the confidence to negotiate individually and build systems that value our expertise.

Unions are attractive when autonomy feels impossible.

But autonomy returns when we understand our economic worth.