February 10, 2023
We, the graduate workers of the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) at the University of Michigan, stand in solidarity with the striking workers of the Temple University Graduate Student Association (TUGSA).
Like us, graduate workers at Temple are in the middle of a contract campaign grounded in affordability and dignity, fighting for a living wage, stronger healthcare and childcare benefits, and a safer campus for international students.
Like us, TUGSA workers’ calls for a living wage (a long-overdue raise from $19,500 to $32,000) have been met with insulting and inadequate counteroffers. Just as the University of Michigan countered our cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) proposal with a 2% raise just last week, Temple Administration countered TUGSA’s COLA proposal with a 3% raise as a response to their 99% strike authorization vote.
These “raises” are effective wage cuts.
Many of TUGSA’s proposals, like parental leave and dependent healthcare, were previously won by GEO workers in collective bargaining. We know firsthand the necessity of those benefits and their impact in making our campuses more equitable, inclusive, and affordable for all workers.
All graduate workers deserve these protections.
We condemn Temple administration for their punitive action against striking workers’ tuition and healthcare protections, and for their intimidation of international student workers and undergraduate supporters. This act is disgusting, unprecedented, and likely illegal. We support TUGSA workers in remaining strong against this intimidation: hold the line, stand together, and refuse to accept a subpar contract.
We urge grad workers and labor allies everywhere to stand in solidarity with Temple graduate workers by joining us in contributing to the TUGSA strike fund and expressing public support.
TUGSA workers’ fight is our fight.
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