September 3, 2019

We are writing today to update you on graduate student unionization at Georgetown. Last November, Georgetown University, the Georgetown Alliance of Graduate Employees (GAGE), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) announced that eligible Georgetown graduate student assistants voted for union representation by GAGE/AFT.

We have a shared belief in the important role that graduate student assistants play at Georgetown and a shared commitment to giving them a strong voice as members of our community.

Since the election results were certified, Georgetown and GAGE/AFT began the collective bargaining process and have made progress and reached agreements on several subjects during negotiations this spring and summer. Under the election agreement, matters subject to negotiation include service hours, stipend levels for enrolled graduate students who are serving as graduate student assistants, benefits, procedures for service-related grievances, and the impact of various academic decisions on commitments set forth in existing award letters or expected hours per week for graduate student assistants after a course assignment has been made.

Matters excluded from bargaining include academic decisions relating to admissions, organization of departments/units/programs/courses, curriculum and degree components and requirements, academic decisions relating to graduate student assistant appointments, establishment of University policies and related adjudication processes and sanctions, and resolution of academic disputes between faculty and students.

Georgetown is committed to continuing to negotiate in good faith and would like to reach a collective bargaining agreement during this academic year. In an effort to keep the negotiations moving forward, we are working with GAGE to schedule weekly meetings starting on September 17, 2019. We will continue to update you on any significant developments.

Sincerely,
Robert M. Groves, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost

Edward B. Healton, M.D.
Executive Vice President for Health Sciences and Executive Dean