Updates & FAQs

Collective Bargaining Update

Dartmouth and GOLD-UE, the graduate student union, have reached their first collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The GOLD-UE membership ratified the three-year contract agreement on June 24. The CBA is effective immediately and will impact how we manage aspects of our graduate and research activities.

Dartmouth's contract implementation team has started taking the necessary steps to ensure that all contractual benefits are in place. Some benefits, like retirement plan participation, will begin once we have the required information and our systems are updated. Others may require additional systems and processes.

We will keep the Guarini community informed through our bi-weekly newsletter and updates on this page. Please see the FAQs below for additional details about our collective bargaining agreement.

Please note: Our current policies and website content may not reflect the CBA changes, but we hope to update them as soon as practicable.

What is a union and do they charge dues?

A union is an association of employees formed to negotiate with their employer with respect to matters regarding terms and conditions of employment, including pay, hours, and other employment-related conditions. The union is the exclusive negotiating agent, meaning no other individual, body, or organization is permitted to work with the employer on matters relating to employment.

Union representatives negotiate with employers through a mechanism called collective bargaining. The results of this process are contained in a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and both parties are bound by the terms of this contract during its term or until a new CBA is in place. The union remains the exclusive representative for members of the bargaining unit until and unless (1) the union disavows interest in representing the unit, or (2) bargaining unit members voluntarily sign a petition seeking to decertify the union (after which a vote would be taken).

Dartmouth's Graduate Student Union

GOLD is an organization of graduate students at Dartmouth that voted in July 2022 to become affiliated with the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America, and is now known as GOLD-UE.

Union Dues

Union dues are a fee charged to bargaining unit members by the union and are calculated by the union to cover the costs of the union representation work, including contract negotiation, administration, and disputes. The dues may be a flat rate or a percentage of wages. They may also be used for the purpose of organizing at other employers and for making political contributions. Unions may seek to require bargaining unit members who decide they do not want to formally join the union and participate in union activities to contribute an "agency fee" (sometimes called "fair-share" or "agency" fee), typically a small percentage less than full dues, which is calculated by the union.

Unions support themselves through the assessment of union dues or fees collective from bargaining unit members. Although the collection of dues are often facilitated by employers through a dues checkoff card, the money paid in dues must come directly from the employee. Unions can set their own dues through internal mechanisms, but GOLD-UE has stated on its website that "dues are generally less than 2% of the stipend."

What is the difference between being a member and joining GOLD-UE?

As a result of the unionization vote in Spring 2023, GOLD-UE is the exclusive bargaining representative for all graduate students enrolled in Dartmouth College degree programs who are employed to provide teaching and research services.

Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), unions and employers can enter a "union security agreement" or "closed shop agreement," which requires the payment of dues or a "dues equivalent" as a condition of employment. Dartmouth has such an agreement with GOLD-UE.

Here's What this Means for You

Membership and Dues: If you are a stipend-supported graduate student employed in teaching or research, you are automatically part of the bargaining unit and represented by GOLD-UE whether or not you sign a union card. You have two options:
1. Join the Union: You can choose to become a member of GOLD-UE, sign a union card, and pay union dues.
2. Beck Objector: You can opt not to join the union. However, you will still need to pay a "dues equivalent" known as an agency fee. This option stems from a Supreme Court decision known as the Beck case. As a Beck objector, you will still be represented by GOLD-UE and protected by the contract but will not have certain rights of union membership, such as voting in union meetings. We do not know the cost difference between dues and the agency fee, but the union should be able to tell you.
Representation: Regardless of whether you sign a union card or voted in the unionization election, if you are a graduate student in the bargaining unit, you are represented by GOLD-UE. This means you are covered by the negotiated agreement between Dartmouth and GOLD-UE.
Membership vs. Joining the Union: You can be a member of the bargaining unit and represented by GOLD-UE without formally joining the union and participating in union activities. This distinction allows you to benefit from union representation and contract protections without full union membership.
Notification: GOLD-UE is required to inform all members of the bargaining unit about the option to pay an agency fee instead of full union dues.

Individuals who are not "members" of the union are still exclusively represented by the union and bound by the terms of the CBA. For more detailed information about your rights and the union dues, you can visit the National Labor Relations Board's page here.

Are international students part of the union?

Yes. All students who are part of the bargaining unit are represented by the union. This includes international students. Membership in the union does not negatively impact immigration status or visa conditions. International students holding F-1 status who are members of the union must continue to comply with the immigration rules for maintenance of status, including the limitations on employment.

Are international PhD students allowed to engage in on-campus employment outside of their role as a member of the GOLD-UE graduate student union?

International students with F-1 status are generally allowed to work on campus for Dartmouth College, but there are important restrictions to keep in mind:

20-Hour Work Rule: U.S. immigration regulations allow international students in F-1 status to work on campus, for Dartmouth College, up to a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic term. This limit applies to all on-campus employment, including teaching assistantships, research assistantships, residential fellow and advisor positions and other campus jobs.
Graduate Student Union Membership: If you hold a position in the GOLD-UE bargaining unit, you will receive a Notice of Assignment. Graduate students in GOLD-UE who receive a Notice of Assignment and are receiving the full stipend amount are assigned twenty (20) hours per week of work. Under the F-1 rules they are not allowed to take on any other on-campus employment because that would exceed the 20-hour per week maximum.
New Students and Union Membership: If you are a new student and not a member of the union, you may engage in on-campus employment up to 20 hours per week during the academic term. However, if you later become a union member, you will be required to discontinue other on-campus employment if the total number of hours worked exceeds the 20-hour/week limit.

We are currently working on implementing the details of our new collective bargaining agreement with GOLD-UE. You will receive your assignment soon, which will provide more clarity. We are also revising our FAQs to address union membership and related employment questions.

If you have specific questions about your situation, we encourage you to reach out to your program advisor or graduate.student.union.inquiry@dartmouth.edu for further guidance.

When will the dental plan start, and how can I find out what will be covered?

The Dartmouth Student Group Health Plan is currently implementing a new dental contract, which will coincide with the typical plan year. DSGHP is preparing an informational brochure about the dental coverage, and the website will be updated once it is available.

If you have any further questions about the dental plan, please contact DSGHP directly at Dartmouth.Student.Health.Plan@Dartmouth.edu.

When will the benefits from the collective bargaining agreement be available?

How do I enroll my eligible dependents in medical insurance to take advantage of the new benefit?

Under the collective bargaining agreement between Dartmouth and GOLD-UE, Dartmouth will reimburse 40% of the premium for dependent medical coverage for all stipend-supported students employed in research and teaching activities who are in active status and enrolled in the Dartmouth Student Group Health Insurance Plan.

Here's how the process works:

Enrollment: You should enroll your eligible dependent according to the terms and process listed on the dependent enrollment webpage.
Reimbursement Process: Currently, we are finalizing the exact process and timeline for this reimbursement. We aim to make this process as smooth and automatic as possible, meaning that, ideally, you will not need to take any additional steps for the reimbursement to be applied. However, please stay tuned for updates as we solidify these details.
Tax Implications: Please be aware that there may be tax implications for receiving this reimbursement, depending on your individual circumstances.

We will continue to update you through our collective bargaining website and bi-weekly newsletter.

When can I start accessing the new union support funds?

The collective bargaining agreement between Dartmouth and GOLD-UE, the graduate student union, has established several support funds for GOLD-UE members.

Medical Expense Support Funds
- $125,000 Student Employee Support Fund, increasing by $10,000 per contract year
- $75,000 Student Employee Dependent Support Fund, increasing by $10,000 per contract year
Childcare Support Fund
- $200,000, increasing by $10,000 per contract year for any GOLD-UE member, regardless of the age of their children, who need financial assistance.
International Employee Support Fund
- $50,000, increasing by $5,000 per contact year. International employees may apply for reimbursement from the fund for required visa fees and/or airfare when required to travel overseas for visa processing and renewal.

Dartmouth's contract implementation team has started taking the necessary steps to ensure that all contractual benefits are in place, including the support funds. We will post information about how to access these funds once we have created processes and updated our systems.

Once reimbursement processes are in place, we will accept retroactive requests.

Please note: Our current policies and website content may not reflect the CBA changes, but we hope to update them as soon as practicable.

Office of Labor Relations

Collective Bargaining Update

General and GOLD-UE Membership FAQs

Dartmouth's Graduate Student Union

Union Dues

Here's What this Means for You

International Students FAQs

Benefits FAQs