On Dec. 4, 2025, members of Temple University’s bargaining team met 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 graduate student teaching assistants and research assistants at Temple. Their contract is set to expire on February 15, 2026.
January 2026 Update: TUGSA Negotiations Continue
Negotiations between Temple University and the Temple University Graduate Students’ Association (TUGSA) are fully underway. Since December, the parties have met four times.
From the beginning of the negotiations, the University has made it clear that the primary focus is achieving fair compensation for student employees.
Temple has consistently expressed its willingness to discuss any proposals brought forward by the union without seeking concessions from TUGSA.
To date, the University and TUGSA have discussed and reached agreement on a number of items proposed by the union. To make further progress, the university has requested that TUGSA present a more comprehensive proposal, including a wage proposal.
The next scheduled session will be February 17. The University remains committed to a constructive and efficient bargaining process and looks forward to meaningful progress when discussions resume.
Negotiation Principles
Temple will continue to negotiate in good faith with all bargaining units, with a focus on collaboration and attention to key deadlines and respective timelines. Temple is eager to do the same with TUGSA, and the university is committed to meeting as frequently as needed to achieve a contract that provides 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. Moving forward, it is our promise that we will:
Work to reach a contract with union leadership that is fair and equitable to both parties, recognizing that the impactful and invaluable work of our student teaching assistants and research assistants supports the university’s overall mission.
Work to find common ground, recognizing and rewarding the important contributions of these part-time employees while also being responsible stewards of the university’s limited resources.
Remain in touch with our community throughout the negotiation process.
Budget Implications for Negotiations
Temple is beginning its negotiations at a time when the university has spent several years operating with a structural budget deficit. Specifically, over the past three fiscal years, the university has used approximately $100 million of reserves to cover budgeted operating deficits. In addition, Temple's Commonwealth appropriation has been held flat for seven straight years.
Moving forward, the university will need to continue to reduce expenses and exercise financial discipline, while identifying opportunities for strategic investments that will increase revenue.
Understanding Temple’s Budget
We believe that having a shared, meaningful understanding of Temple’s operating budget is imperative to understanding the challenges we face as a university and why we must negotiate responsibly as the stewards of the university’s limited resources. The Budget Information Center on Temple’s Gateway to Finance website provides a clear, accessible review of our operating budget, what drives it and what it finances. Additionally, it shares information about how enrollment impacts the university’s budget as well as Temple’s plan for balancing the budget.