KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

What right do I have to unionize?

The right to unionize in the U.S. was established by the National Labor Relations Act. In 2016, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that graduate students who are paid to provide teaching and research services at private universities are employees and have the right to collectively bargain without retaliation from their employer.

Do international students have the same rights to unionize as U.S. nationals?

Yes! International graduate student-workers have all of the same rights and protections as U.S. citizens to organize and support unions. It is illegal for employers to retaliate against any worker, international or otherwise, for unionization efforts. Furthermore, union participation has no impact on the ability to obtain or maintain visa or immigration status. 

For over 50 years, international graduate student-workers have been pivotal leaders in union organizing, and this is true for our campaign too. International graduate student-workers are a critical part of our community, making up ~40% of our population, and are absolutely vital to organizing efforts. A key pillar of our platform focuses on increasing benefits, protections, and support for international student-workers.

Crucially, nobody will be taking action alone. Our union's strength is rooted in broad support, which gives us the power to act collectively as well as strength and safety and numbers. GOLD will not stand for any graduate student-worker being retaliated against; any action against our fellow co-workers will be met with swift and fierce support from the rank and file. For more information, look at the International Students and Unions section of our FAQ or the International Students section of the FAQ from our comrades at Brown University which we highly recommend. 

Can Dartmouth retaliate against me for unionizing?

No! Workers have a legally protected right to unionize, as guaranteed by the National Labor Relations Act. As of 2016, this protection applies to graduate student-workers at private universities as well. The university may not retaliate against you in any way: they cannot fire, threaten, or discipline you for unionizing; they cannot ask you about your support for or involvement in the union; they cannot discriminate against you for your attitudes toward or participation in union activity; and they cannot threaten you with how unionizing will affect your working or living conditions, your benefits, or your protections. 

Okay, even though it is illegal for Dartmouth to retaliate against me, might they do so anyways?

It is possible that Dartmouth will choose to illegally retaliate against union activity, but such illegal retaliation is very dangerous for them. 

Illegal retaliation would be met with serious consequences, damaging Dartmouth's public image as well as its status as a legitimate, prestigious academic institution. Most of all, illegal retaliation against our rank and file would be met with mass action from us (i.e., protests and strikes), and Dartmouth cannot operate without our labor and goodwill.

Despite the extreme consequences, some universities have attempted illegal retaliation anyways; however, this retaliation is short-lived and always backfires. Some known examples of this illegal retaliation include illegal misinformation and threatening, as well as temporary firings. Fired students have quickly regained employment and received backpay and financial compensation. Universities that have illegally retaliated like this not only lose financially, but also suffer significant damage to their public image.

Will the union require me to limit my research hours?

No! The union will never force you to limit your work. Union contracts may limit the maximum required number of hours of work per week, in order to protect student workers from abuse and overwork, but you are always free to exceed this. We as graduate student-workers care deeply about our work, and would never vote on a contract that hinders our ability to do this work.

Will the union require me to strike?

No. If Dartmouth negotiates with us fairly and meets our demands, we will not need to strike. Demonstrating to Dartmouth that support for the union is deep and wide will send a powerful message about our strength and organizing power, and would encourage them to meet our demands. In this case, no strike is necessary. 

Nevertheless, our ability and willingness to strike is our most powerful bargaining tool. Through our labor, we carry out research, write grants, teach classes and labs, serve on committees...the list goes on. Our labor generates immense value for Dartmouth, and they cannot operate without it. Withholding this labor demonstrates to Dartmouth that they rely on us, and forces them to recognize that they must meet our demands.

Our union is democratically organized, which means we all have to vote collectively on strikes. This vote includes the terms, conditions, nature, and duration of the strike. Without overwhelming support from the union membership, there will be no strike. As graduate student-workers, we all understand the impact striking has on our work and research, and we would all carefully weigh the options and consequences before coming to a collective agreement on a strike.