The strike and negotiations continue as graduate student workers at Temple University (unionized as TUGSA) overwhelmingly voted down the tentative agreement the administration offered on February 17th. Below is the text of an email circulated by the striking workers on 2/21:
TUGSA Members Vote ‘No’ on the Tentative Agreement, Strike and Negotiations Continue
On Friday, February 17, Temple’s administration offered a package counterproposal to TUGSA’s Contract Negotiations Team (CNT). The CNT agreed to put the counterproposal to a vote by members in the form of a Tentative Agreement.
Members voted by over 92% to reject the agreement with a final count of 352 “No” votes to 30 “Yes” votes. This means that this Tentative Agreement has been officially rejected and will not become the new Collective Bargaining Agreement and the strike and negotiations will continue.
Nearly 83% of our members turned out in-person and online to vote. More people participated in this vote than in the Strike Authorization last fall. Our members are speaking up for themselves more than ever before.
The union has notified the University of the results and offered to return to bargaining as early as tomorrow, Wednesday morning. The strike will continue until a new Tentative Agreement is reached and accepted by TUGSA members.
Why Did Members Vote Down This Agreement?
The Tentative Agreement did not meet many of TUGSA’s core demands. It contained minimal raises and no healthcare coverage for dependents. The proposed wage increases in the Tentative Agreement would bring the average grad worker stipend to around only $22,000 in the first year.
-TUGSA Member MeiRose Neal, Math
“I voted ‘No’ on the Tentative Agreement because it offered no substantive relief to international graduate students with dependents. I won’t agree to a contract that leaves some members behind.”
-TUGSA Member Hans Shenk, Philosophy
“Despite the University offering to reinstate benefits that it cut during the strike in this Tentative Agreement, the terms of this proposed contract still fail to meet our basic needs. These benefits should’ve never been cut in the first place.”
-TUGSA Member Amanda Whitehead, Dance
“I voted no because I want a contract that makes graduate study at Temple equitable and inclusive, and this proposal did not accomplish that. Without a living wage and dependent healthcare coverage, our contract sends a message to parents, international students, and anyone without a financial safety net that they do not belong here.”
-TUGSA Member Fani Avramopoulos, English
What Happens Next?
TUGSA has offered to return to bargaining as soon as possible. We await the University’s response and look forward to continued productive and good faith bargaining towards a fair contract.
Our members have shown overwhelmingly that they know their worth and have worked too hard to accept a subpar contract. The strike continues until we win what we deserve.
If you’re a graduate worker who’s now ready to go on strike, join today and become a part of a groundbreaking movement for worker respect. Email union@tugsa.org to get connected. Our momentum is building every day and you could be part of making history.
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