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GOLD-UE Bargaining Update

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Daniel Veres

Dear Guarini community,

I write to update you on our recent bargaining session with GOLD-UE on June 20. At this session, we presented a slightly-revised package proposal designed to reach an agreement with GOLD-UE, while also maintaining Dartmouth's core positions.

At the GOLD-UE membership meeting on June 24, they voted to accept our most recent package proposal, and I am pleased to announce that Dartmouth and GOLD-UE have reached a tentative agreement for a three-year contract. The next step is for the GOLD-UE membership to ratify the contract, with the ratification vote scheduled to conclude by Friday. 

This agreement addresses several key issues that have been the focus of our negotiations and reflects our commitment to supporting our graduate students while maintaining the institution's core values and operational needs.

Union Security and Check-Off 

This clause in the tentative agreement remains unchanged from our June 4 proposal. Dartmouth's willingness to agree to a "closed shop," where union membership is required for employment, is contingent on the inclusion of our Management Rights and No Strike/No Lockout language in the contract.

Management Rights 

Our Management Rights clause, unchanged from our May 30 and June 4 proposals, safeguards the academic freedom, discretion, judgment, and decision-making authority of both the institution and its faculty.

No Strike/No Lockout 

This clause also remains unchanged from our June 4 package. Under this clause, GOLD-UE members would not be permitted to engage in any strike or work slowdown during the contract, and Dartmouth would not be permitted to lockout GOLD-UE members from labs and classrooms or otherwise prevent them from working.  

Medical Benefits

  • Premium: Dartmouth continues to pay 100% of the $4,123 premium for the Dartmouth Student Group Health Plan (DSGHP) for stipend-supported graduate students.
  • Dependent Medical Premium: Dartmouth will cover 40% of dependent premium costs for DSGHP.
  • Dental: Starting in the 2024-25 plan year, dental coverage for members and eligible dependents will be included through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield with premiums fully covered for stipend-supported employees.
  • Support Funds:
    • $125,000 Student Employee Support Fund (Medical), increasing by $10,000 annually.
    • $75,000 Student Employee Dependent Support Fund (Medical), increasing by $10,000 annually.
  • Medical Leave: Under the existing Time Away for Medical Reasons (TAMR) policy, graduate students can receive up to four terms of Dartmouth Student Group Health Plan (DGSHP) coverage at no cost. Under the tentative agreement, Dartmouth will also provide a TAMR student with a lump-sum grant equal to 60% of the then-current stipend amount. The grant will be available once per calendar year, limited to two months, and prorated if the TAMR period is less than two months.

Dependent Care 

Dartmouth will increase the Guarini childcare stipend by $2,000 per child (totaling $5,000 per child) and reaffirm a $200,000 childcare fund to cover costs for dependent children, including those of new parents.

Employee Assistance 

This clause includes assistance for international employees such as fees, a one-time lump sum payment and an international employee support fund solely for the purpose of required visa fees and airfare for required travel overseas. It remains unchanged from our last package, with no rollover language added for the International Employee Support fund.

Compensation 

Our compensation proposal remains the same, offering a $47,000 stipend with an increase tied to the CPI-W 12-month percentage change or 3%, whichever is larger. No other graduate contracts, including UE-negotiated ones, include a straight cost-of-living adjustment like ours.

This contract enhances an already comprehensive benefits package, valued at $129,035 for 2023-24, which includes 100% tuition remission, health insurance, time away for medical reasons, and more. 

Moving Forward

This week, GOLD-UE will present the agreement to its membership for a ratification vote, which they have indicated should conclude by Friday.

We appreciate the patience and understanding of the entire Guarini community during this period of negotiations. We are especially grateful for those who made efforts during the strike to ensure undergraduates received the support they needed and grades were submitted on time.

We are proud that this contract puts us on par with graduate student contracts at other, similar institutions. We look forward to the continued success and contributions of our graduate students under this new agreement. 

Sincerely,

David Kotz
Provost