Question

Dear Deans,

I have read that for Union dues, every graduate student will have to pay probably around $900 each year. Yet as a grad student, I do not always have room in my budget for an extra $900. Would there be a certain time of year when we would be expected to pay these dues? Or, would we be able to pay the $900 over the course of the year?

Worried about the budget,

Worried Graduate Student

Response

Dear Worried Graduate Student,

Thank you for your question. Information about dues for CGSU/AFT/NYSUT was provided in the fall, directly by CGSU, and is available here on our FAQ. They indicated that the dues chart shows the AFT and NYSUT components of dues rates for this year (2016-2017), but does not include the additional dues for the CGSU component … so presumably dues would be at least the amounts in the chart, plus a CGSU addition, plus rate growth each year.

Based on current Cornell assistantship stipend rates in relation to this chart, the AFT/NYSUT portion of dues would likely range from $303/year to $606/year, plus the local CGSU amount which is unknown at this time.

When they gave us this dues chart and asked us to post it on our FAQ, they also indicated that dues are collected incrementally per paycheck – in other words, money will be automatically deducted from every student’s paycheck in the bargaining unit and sent directly to the Union. Perhaps that approach, which is mandatory, will help you with your budgeting concern.

Warm regards,

Barb

Barbara A. Knuth
Senior Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School