GOLD-UE Bargaining Update

Dear Guarini community, 

I write to provide an update on our April 4 bargaining session with GOLD-UE.

Timeline

Negotiations began in August 2023, and GOLD-UE submitted their initial economic proposals in January 2024. Typically, a first contract takes 12-18 months of bargaining with both parties seeking compromise and moving forward in good faith. GOLD-UE has stated that they have a mandate from their members to resolve negotiations by the end of Spring 2024.

Dartmouth is working to help GOLD-UE meet their deadline. To resolve negotiations by June, bargaining will need to move forward at a faster than average pace. At our most recent session, GOLD-UE submitted proposals that potentially slow forward momentum, making it difficult to reach an agreement as early as the end of spring term.  Regardless, we remain hopeful that we can reach a mutually beneficial agreement soon.

Recent Proposals

  • International student support. GOLD-UE initially proposed Dartmouth cover immigration-related fees for international students.  At a previous session, GOLD-UE accepted Dartmouth's proposal in which Dartmouth would provide each international student $1200, on arrival, to assist with fees and other costs associated with their international status. On April 4, GOLD-UE accepted that proposal and then proposed Dartmouth create an additional annual $150,000 fund for international students. This issue, which had appeared resolved, will require additional negotiation.
  • No strike/no lockout. In previous bargaining sessions, Dartmouth proposed  a no strike/no lockout clause that would take effect once the parties' contract is in place. No strike/no lockout clauses are common in collective bargaining agreements, including in those Dartmouth has with other bargaining units. On April 4, GOLD-UE presented a counter to Dartmouth's proposed no strike/no lockout clause that would allow their members to strike in all but a limited number of circumstances, while Dartmouth would not be allowed to lock out striking GOLD-UE members. As GOLD-UE's proposal did not make a meaningful move in Dartmouth's direction, this topic will also continue to be under discussion. 

Compensation - Stipend

GOLD-UE initially asked for the current stipend to increase from $40,000 to $55,000. At the March 29 session, Dartmouth offered to raise the annual minimum stipend amount by 15% to $46,000 in the first year of the contract and to guarantee annual increases of 3% through year four when the stipend would reach $50,265.

At the April 4 session, GOLD-UE rejected Dartmouth's offer and countered with a minimum stipend in year one of $53,000, which is a 3.6% decrease from GOLD-UE's initial proposal of $55,000, but remains above stipend levels of our peer institutions with union contracts for graduate-student workers. This proposal also includes an annual cost of living adjustment plus an additional $1,000.  

Dartmouth's proposed 15% increase moves its stipend amount to within the range of other Ivy and Ivy+ institutions that have graduate-student unions, and Dartmouth's proposed fixed 3% annual increases would enable budgetary predictability (for both students and faculty) while exceeding historical inflation rates.

Moving Forward

Dartmouth remains committed to working with GOLD-UE in the spirit of compromise and with the goal of helping GOLD-UE reach a mutually beneficial agreement by its proposed deadline. Dartmouth appreciates the efforts of the GOLD-UE bargaining committee.

Our next bargaining session is scheduled for April 11. I will provide additional updates following that meeting. An overview and FAQs about the graduate union organization at Dartmouth are available on the provost's website.

Sincerely,

David Kotz

Provost

Written by

Daniel Veres