We Deserve A Seat at the table
Graduate student workers at Duke are fighting for “a seat at the table.” But what does this mean?
In short, “the table” is where negotiations for a fair contract will take place. Right now, Duke and Duke alone decides our stipend levels and disbursement, working conditions, and treatment. This means that we graduate students operate at the whim of the administration with no say in how we are paid or treated. It’s great when Duke spontaneously offers us a raise, but that kind of chaotic rollout keeps workers on our toes, not knowing when or if we will get what we need.
This is unfair.
DGSU’s unionization drive will, if successful, force Duke to negotiate with a “bargaining committee” on a contract that will lay out our working conditions. The bargaining committee is made up of and elected by regular graduate student union members.
How does the bargaining committee decide what graduate student workers need in a contract? The committee doesn’t decide; YOU do. By becoming a union member, attending trainings and general body meetings, and getting involved with the union drive, YOUR voice will be heard.
Some issues have already come up and will become the cornerstone of our contract negotiations. They include:
a stipend floor of $40,ooo per year for every program and department
a REAL 12-month stipend; no more forcing students to take summer internships to pay rent
cost-of-living stipend adjustments that track inflation
free tax advice for graduate students
an end to continuation fees
International student specific needs:
remove summer tuition fees for off-campus internships
reform the English placement exam and remedial course system
train employees on the diversity of international student experiences
provide more support to 1st-year int'l students upon arrival
a third-party grievance process that truly holds perpetrators accountable
a moving stipend and REAL August pay for incoming students
office space for every graduate student
better dental, out-of-state health coverage, and mental healthcare options
RA/TA assignments clearly defined and known well in advance