Contract

2006-2010 Contract in full

2002-2006 Contract in full

Summary of the New Contract

The new contract provides for a number of changes from our first contract. All changes are summarized below.

Finances

Free Health Insurance – Full-time TAs and RAs will receive free single coverage year-round under either the CompSelect or the Keystone plan, a significant improvement over the previous limit of nine months of free single coverage under Keystone.

Higher Wages – TAs and RAs will receive a 2% cost-of-living adjustment this year and each succeeding year of the contract, as well as a 1% bonus this year and each year of the contract. This 3% raise is .25% more than what we won in our first contract and matches the raises other Temple unions negotiated in their contracts.

Bookstore Discount – TAs and RAs will receive the same 10% discount at the Temple bookstore that other Temple employees receive.

Workload and Grievances

Workload - Before, remedies for excessive workload were suggestions of things that administration "may" do. Now, the language specifies that administration "shall" compensate students in some fashion, or come to a solution mutually agreed upon by all parties when TUGSA proves that an excessive workload has been assigned. Workload cases will go to the Director of Labor and Employee Relations and/or the Assistant V.P. of Human Resources Operations, rather than a nameless and unpredictable "University designee" whose decisions might be unintentionally influenced by College or department politics.

Grievance Procedure - TUGSA will have the option to receive expedited arbitration.

Working Conditions

Office Space and Supplies – All TAs will receive a voicemail number and account, whether or not they have a phone in their office. Deans will be required to participate in discussions between Labor and Employee Relations and TUGSA about office space needs.

Department/Program Files - TUGSA and Temple will meet to discuss creating a policy regarding accessibility and use of department/program files.

Personnel Files – TAs and RAs will have the right to respond to items placed in their personnel files; they have the right to review their file at any time. Items placed in their folder will have to be time- and date-stamped, and the student will have to be notified before anything derogatory is placed in her file.

Affirmative Action – Temple will be required to give TUGSA the appendices to Affirmative Action policy, not just the policy itself, and TUGSA can make suggestions regarding additions or changes to Affirmative Action policies.

Other Employment - The process for receiving approval to secure employment to supplement a teaching or research assistantship will be easier, clearer, and faster.

Child Care – Temple will have to meet with a committee of TAs and RAs to discuss child care policies.

Employee Assistance Program – TAs and RAs will be eligible for the University's Employee Assistance Program.

Health and Safety – Temple will have to meet regularly with TUGSA representatives to discuss these issues.

Unpaid Leave - TAs and RAs will be able to apply for unpaid leave for pregnancy or the urgent care of a child or domestic partner.

International TAs and RAs

Non-discrimination – "Nationality" has been added to the list of matters on which Temple will not discriminate.

Unpaid Leave - TAs and RAs will be able to apply for unpaid leave for immigration hearings.

Union Rights

Dues Check-off - TUGSA members who fall out of the unit and then are re-hired within an academic year will be automatically re-instated as TUGSA members.

Fair Share - TUGSA will gain a fair share fee from all graduate students in the bargaining unit when TUGSA membership reaches 70%.

New Technology - TUGSA will have to be informed of important changes to technology - for example, new computer systems that affect health insurance enrollment.

Union Rights - TUGSA will receive electronic dues lists, allowing for a swifter check of who's properly paying dues and who's not; dues lists for summer sessions; leave for union business; a promise that Temple will try not to direct TUGSA emails to junk mail folders; and more bulletin boards.