GOLD-UE: Looking Forward

To the Guarini community,
 
On April 11 and 12, graduate students at Dartmouth decided to unionize by a vote of 261-33. As a result, on Thursday the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) certified the Graduate Organized Laborers at Dartmouth (GOLD–UE) as the exclusive agent for collective bargaining on behalf of graduate students enrolled in degree programs who are employed to provide teaching and research services. 
 
To facilitate amicable and successful contract negotiations that allow our students to focus on their educational experience, Dartmouth will honor the results and will not challenge any of the ballots cast in the election. In the coming months, we will continue to operate our academic courses and all teaching and research activities while a contract is negotiated.
 
As we head into contract negotiations, we want to make our core values clear. We remain unwaveringly committed to our teaching and research mission. The institution and our faculty will continue to make all decisions that affect the academic enterprise. Likewise, all aspects of academic freedom and the rights of faculty to oversee teaching and research matters will be preserved. None of this is mutually exclusive with a successful negotiation with GOLD–UE and we look forward to working together to shape the employment conditions that will foster continued graduate student success. 
 
Although the union represents only a subset of students on campus, the well-being and success of all our students—and of the faculty charged with giving them the best educational experience possible—is our priority. The institution will continue to determine who is admitted, how teaching is delivered, and by whom. 
 
Dartmouth will communicate periodically regarding the progress of collective bargaining as an agreement is negotiated, and about any changes that may take place as a result. We encourage all graduate students to learn more about GOLD–UE and ensure that their voices are heard during the bargaining process. (Please visit the provost's website for information and FAQ.) We want every Dartmouth student to succeed and thrive, and we are committed to ensuring that all our graduate students have access to the outstanding academic and professional opportunities available at Dartmouth.
 
Sincerely,
 
David Kotz
Provost