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Legitimate_Onion_653 t1_j6p0w7l wrote

In case anyone is curious, I will post the email that students received from Dean Mandel this morning:

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To the Temple community,
The Temple University Graduate Student Association (TUGSA) has decided to go on strike after failing to successfully negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with Temple University. Our students’ education is our top priority, and we have plans to keep their learning experiences moving forward during any work stoppage. If a graduate student instructor chooses to strike, the university will assign alternative instructors.
Temple is committed to reaching a fair and reasonable agreement and has repeatedly demonstrated an interest in continuing productive discussions. Temple has proposed significant annual pay increases (3% each year for four years) that are in line with what other Temple full-time bargaining units have accepted, and offered one-time payments of up to $500 (depending on an individual’s appointment terms). The university also offered to double the parental leave and provide additional bereavement leave for these part-time employees. In addition, the university would continue to provide healthcare benefits coverage to graduate student employees across the entire calendar year, with no contribution required from the employee. Every other Temple employee contributes part of their salary toward healthcare and prescription insurance. TUGSA members would continue to receive free tuition for their programs of study, on average, valued at about $20,000.
These pay increases, one-time payments and the cost-free benefit package would allow the university to continue to attract and retain outstanding graduate students while also responsibly managing a budget primarily funded by tuition dollars during a time of declining enrollment. This compensation package is valued at more than $40,000 per year for a nine-month commitment of working 20 hours per week while providing 12 full months of free health coverage.
In order to keep you apprised of developments, our colleges and schools each have a designated contact person for questions and information related to this matter. Schools and colleges will provide these details to you.

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BigxMac OP t1_j6pcugs wrote

Absolute joke. From what I heard some of the contact people are spreading misinformation to try to turn the undergrad student body against them but so far the student body has been too smart

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