During Monday’s bargaining session, the Bargaining Committee presented two new articles and four counter-proposals to the University (including one tentative agreement*). We also received three counter-proposals from the University and engaged in an in-depth discussion about their proposed changes.

New articles proposed by GEU-UNH:

• Training​: We demand a comprehensive training procedure for new graduate employees (GEs), starting with a clear explanation of all job responsibilities at the start of each teaching or research appointment. We propose that all departments hold weekly training sessions for newly appointed teaching assistants, in addition to course-specific meetings in which supervisors answer questions and review course materials.
• Discipline and Dismissal​: In the event that a GE is investigated by the University for job-related misconduct, we propose the establishment of a clear and efficient process for investigation and potential discipline, which includes the right to Union representation at any necessary meetings or hearings.

Counter-proposals presented by GEU-UNH:

• Severability​: We signed a tentative agreement (TA) on this article!
• Successorship​
• Workload​
• Appointment letters​

Counter-proposals presented by UNH:

• Union Management Committee
• Intellectual Property
• Health and Safety – Our initial proposal for this article was 18 sections long and offered comprehensive protections for GEs that included lab safety measures, guaranteed access to gender-neutral bathrooms, provision of properly maintained first aid equipment, and specific protections relevant to public health threats. The University’s counter-proposal struck all sections of our initial article, replacing it with only two sections that primarily reference current UNH health and safety policies. These changes are unacceptable to us and we will work hard to counter this!

As always, a huge thank you to those who came out to observe the bargaining session today and gave input during the caucus! It’s crucial that people continue to show up because it makes the committee stronger! We have more important proposals and counter-proposals to present our next session, November 21 at 1 PM, so please come out to support us!

In Solidarity

UNH-GEU-UAW Bargaining Committee

*A Tentative Agreement (TA) is an agreement reached between the University and the Bargaining Committee on an article that has not been ratified by the members of the Union.