The Brotherhood of University Employees (BUE), representing Temple’s housekeepers, groundsworkers, drivers, post office workers and related employees ratified a new 4-year contract on Saturday, Oct. 11.  The union represents just under 300 employees.

The university and the union had reached an agreement on Monday, Oct. 5.
The contract features 3 percent raises in each of the four years, plus improvements to the pension, sick benefit and disability packages. Also, for the first time, BUE members will be eligible to enroll in flexible spending accounts for healthcare expenses.

“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with the BUE that recognizes their role in building the future of Temple University,” said Deborah Hartnett, vice president of human resources and a member of the negotiating team. “The BUE negotiating team deserves a lot of credit for their willingness to realistically discuss the important issues facing Temple and how their membership can participate as a vital part of the university community.”

As of Monday, the university was continuing its negotiations with Temple Association of University Professionals (TAUP), the union representing about 1,300 full-time faculty members, librarians and academic professionals in 13 of Temple’s schools and colleges.

As for AFSCME Local 1723, the University made a comprehensive proposal to AFSCME in May, but the union has declined to put that offer to a vote of its membership. No talks are scheduled with AFSCME, which represents more than 740 professional employees at the university in positions including laboratory managers, programmers, analysts, accountants and other professional positions that are similar to many non-bargaining professional positions.