Dartblog

I was worried that this would happen. Digging yourself out of a hole is tougher than getting into one in the first place. The Valley News reports that Dartmouth’s employee labor union (Service Employees International Union Local 560) has thrown down the gauntlet in the face of looming budget cuts. Not only does it threaten militant action, but it may seek to unionize another 1,000 College employees (beyond the 600 members that it already has).

The big question in my mind is: does the union just want to save jobs, or is it also bent on maintaining the opulent benefits that it has obtained over the past decade? President Kim might have an easier time convincing the union to help the College regain its financial footing if he cuts everyone’s benefits — up to and including his own. A higher deductible and reduced coverage in health insurance, lower pension contributions, and fewer holidays might go over better than having the axe fall on certain employees, with no sacrifice at all on the part of the people who keep their jobs. The College could then maintain its current hiring and wage freeze and reduce the size of the bureaucracy via attrition.

The complete text of the Valley News’ story is below and in the extended.

Union at Dartmouth Mobilizes

BY SUSAN J. BOUTWELL
Valley News Staff Writer

HANOVER - Union officials at Dartmouth College are asking national members of their organization and members of Congress for help preserving jobs as the college prepares to make $100 million in cuts over the next two years to make up for endowment losses and projected budget deficits.

“We’re going after all of them to step up to this,” said Earl Sweet, president of Service Employees International Union Local 560. “Make some noise.”