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GOLD-UE Bargaining Update

Posted on May 13, 2024 by Daniel Veres

Dear Guarini community,  

I write to provide an update on our May 8 bargaining session with GOLD-UE.

At this session, we continued discussions on tuition and fees, medical benefits, dependent care, and other topics. GOLD-UE also presented four speakers to illustrate their concerns about medical benefits, leave, and childcare. Our bargaining committee appreciated the bravery of these speakers in sharing such personal stories and their perspectives.  

Tuition and Fees

Discussions continued regarding the notice period for implementing new fees. GOLD-UE proposed a 90-day notice, while Dartmouth countered with a 45-day notice.   

Medical Benefits

Dartmouth presented a slightly revised medical benefits proposal in response to GOLD-UE's request for short term disability. We proposed that GOLD-UE members who are using Dartmouth's Time Away for Medical Reasons (TAMR) policy may apply for a one-time grant of $1,200 at the start of their TAMR. This benefit is similar to one offered at our peer institutions. 

Currently, Dartmouth will pay for up to four terms of student health plan, DSGHP, insurance coverage for a graduate student on TAMR with financial need who enrolled in the student health plan prior to taking their TAMR. Also, for those graduate students who have financial hardship, Dartmouth will work with them to identify funds and support on a case-by-case basis with the input of the time away director.

Dependent Care  

To assist graduate students who have children with childcare costs, Dartmouth proposed increasing the fund for childcare from $125,000 to $150,000 in year one with an annual increase to $10K, which is higher than the $5k per year proposed by GOLD-UE.   

After Dartmouth committed to expanding childcare access for Dartmouth community members, including GOLD-UE members. GOLD-UE proposed a deadline of July 1, 2025 for their members to apply for child care at the Dartmouth College Child Care Center or to a comparable Dartmouth facility. At this session, Dartmouth reiterated that we are working on expanding childcare access for all Dartmouth employees. Dartmouth proposed providing annual updates on our progress in expanding childcare access for GOLD-UE. 

Compensation

Dartmouth is reviewing GOLD-UE's proposed language for annual stipend increases from the May 3 session. This language included the requirement for using four competing measurements for determining the annual stipend increase. Dartmouth is reviewing the proposed methodology and evaluating it within the context of our internal processes and broader campus community. 

Additional Discussions

Union security, management rights, and no strike/no lockouts. Discussions continued on the union security, management rights, and no strike/no lockouts articles. Each of these items are common in collective bargaining agreements.  Retirement. We discussed recent proposals from both parties, and Dartmouth reiterated our proposal to allow GOLD-UE members to make contributions to the employee Supplemental Retirement Account (SRA). 

Moving Forward

Our next meeting is scheduled for May 16, and we are hopeful that we can make progress toward our shared goal of a mutually beneficial contract by the end of the term. An overview and updated FAQs about the GOLD-UE strike, including all Dartmouth economic proposalsas of 5-8-24, are available on the provost's website. 

Sincerely,
David Kotz

Provost