The Temple University Graduate Students’ Association (TUGSA) is the labor union that represents some teaching assistants and research assistants at Temple. Their contract is set to expire on Feb. 15, 2026.
Photo by Ryan Brandenberg
Since last week, members of Temple University’s bargaining team have met twice with representatives from the Temple University Graduate Students’ Association (TUGSA) to mark the start of contract negotiations. TUGSA is the labor union that represents some teaching assistants and research assistants at Temple. Their contract is set to expire on Feb. 15, 2026.
“We are eager to start these conversations with TUGSA as we work toward the mutual goal of agreeing to a contract that is both fair to our students and also ensures the university remains on a sustainable financial path moving forward,” said Temple President John Fry. “We deeply value the contributions of TUGSA and its members, whose impactful and invaluable work as student teaching assistants and research assistants supports the university’s mission. I am confident that our collective bargaining team and TUGSA leadership will be able to work together to find common ground in the weeks to come.”
As part of their teaching and research appointments, TUGSA employees with full appointments work nine months of the year and average 20 hours of work per week while pursuing a graduate-level education that is funded entirely by Temple. Additionally, while TUGSA members are part-time, nine-month employees, their members presently have 100% of their healthcare benefits covered by the university. TUGSA is the only Temple union that receives this benefit. With a current minimum salary of $27,000, the total average minimum compensation package for a part-time student employee covered by TUGSA is approximately $58,000.
The university is committed to continuing to provide these part-time student employees with a fair, supplemental income while also providing them with access to resources that support their continuing education and pursuit of future careers.
As negotiations begin, the university will work with TUGSA to gain a better understanding of the collective bargaining unit’s priorities. During the first negotiation session, the university shared with the bargaining unit that it does not intend to ask TUGSA members for any concessions in the current contract and instead wants to focus on increasing TUGSA members’ wages. During the recent sessions, the parties discussed union proposals and were able to agree in principle on some items.
“In leading up to these bargaining sessions, we have had some positive discussions with TUGSA leadership, and I feel good about where we are headed,” said Sharon Boyle, vice president for human resources. “Once we know their priorities, we can start progressing toward reaching a mutually beneficial agreement that both fairly compensates them but also ensures that we are being responsible stewards of university’s resources.”
Negotiations with TUGSA come at a time when the university has spent several years operating with a structural budget deficit, and university leadership is presently working to find solutions that will ensure Temple remains on a financially sustainable path moving forward.
“We are eager to work with TUGSA and are committed to meeting as frequently as needed to help get this done,” Boyle said. “We are confident that there will be a positive outcome.”
TUGSA and the university will next meet in January to continue negotiations.
