GOLD-UE Bargaining Update

Dear Guarini community,  

I write with an update on our May 16 bargaining session with GOLD-UE and with information about changes to graduate student pay during the strike.

Bargaining Update Summary

Tuition and Fees

At the May 16 bargaining session, we reached a tentative agreement on tuition and fees, establishing a 60-day notice period to the union ahead of implementing any new fees for graduate students. This brings our total number of tentative agreements to 19. 

Medical Benefits

Dartmouth was pleased to present information on the new Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield dental plan for all graduate, professional, and undergraduate students. The plan will go into effect for the 2024-25 plan year. This plan was chosen after a year-long process involving multiple bidders. GOLD-UE proposed a minor revision to Dartmouth's language in the Medical Benefits article, reflecting the addition of this plan. 

Compensation 

Dartmouth is committed to fair compensation for graduate students and has proposed one. We reiterated our last compensation package of a $47,000 annual stipend in year one and an annual cost of living adjustment tied to the national CPI-W and no lower than 3%. 

GOLD-UE reproposed their last proposal that included the requirement for using four competing measurements for determining the annual stipend increase.

Members of Dartmouth's bargaining committee walked through the methodology and rationale for our proposed stipend.  We also provided calculations demonstrating that the proposed stipend of $47,000 exceeds the area's living wage threshold, and that our proposed plan for subsequent years includes a cost-of-living adjustment accounting for changes in the cost of housing.   

Graduate Student Pay and Attestation

We have received questions about the attestation form sent to graduate students.  Dartmouth recognizes the right of unions, such as GOLD-UE, to strike, but Dartmouth also has a legal right to withhold compensation from striking employees who are not performing teaching and research duties, so are not working.

As an employer, we must account for all employee compensation, as well as any changes to compensation. Also, faculty supervisors and/or individual principal investigators (PIs) are responsible for certifying work effort and ensuring appropriate charges, especially for federally sponsored awards. Attestation forms help us ensure compliance with federal grant reporting regulations.

GOLD-UE members who did not complete an attestation form, or for whom their programs or advisors did not attest, or who did not fill out a return to work attestation by the close of business on May 23, are considered to be not working. 

If a student's pay has been withheld in error, a student may request that their supervisor submit a letter certifying their effort. The corrected amount will be included in their July 1 pay.

As of today, the attestations indicate that approximately 80% percent of GOLD-UE members receiving a monthly stipend are working. 

Moving Forward

At our May 16 meeting, we again offered mediation to facilitate constructive dialogue and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. This is the third time that we have offered mediation. At this time, GOLD-UE's bargaining committee does not want to participate in mediation. We will have another bargaining session scheduled for May 30. 

We remain committed to bargaining in good faith and are hopeful that we can reach a fair and equitable agreement that addresses the needs of all parties involved. An overview and updated FAQs about the GOLD-UE strike, including all Dartmouth economic proposals as of 5-16-24, are available on the provost's website. 

Sincerely,
David Kotz

Provost