Dear colleagues, 

August marks a year since the university began negotiations with TAUP for a new contract. During the course of that year, university representatives have listened carefully to the many proposals made by the union and their stated priorities. In response, the university has made historic moves to address these priorities, while also providing significant wage increases and holding the rate of benefit contributions steady. 

After more than ten hours of bargaining yesterday, the parties were able to reach agreement on all remaining issues but one. The union continues to demand that librarians and academic professionals be exempted from the same attendance rules that apply to all other staff members at the university. This would be an inequitable and unacceptable outcome for the university. These rules are in place across the university to manage attendance consistently and provide appropriate staffing to serve our students and community. 

We believe it is time for the faculty, librarians and academic professionals to decide. After two years with no wage increases for members of this bargaining unit, the university has asked the union to take the package offered last night to its membership for a vote. It is up to TAUP alone to decide if members of the bargaining unit get to vote and what they get to vote on. 

The current university proposal offers the largest salary increases in two decades, surpasses recent packages negotiated by unions at similar higher education institutions like PASSHE, University of Pittsburgh, and Rutgers University, and enriches every member of the bargaining unit. It includes:

Full-time increases:

This represents an average increase of more than 18% for full-time faculty, more than 20% for librarians and more than 25% for academic professionals. Those who receive merit will get even more.

Adjunct minima increases: 

Any adjunct who taught in 2023-2024 academic year and who is continuing their employment will receive $500 per credit taught in AY 2023-2024. Minima shall increase as follows going forward: 

• AY 2024-2025: $2,250 per credit hour
• AY 2025-2026: $2,300 per credit hour
• AY 2026-2027: $2,350 per credit hour
• AY 2027-2028: $2,400 per credit hour

This is an increase of more than 35% to the minimum per credit rate for AY 2024-2025 alone.

Along with: 

• increased job security for NTT faculty members and adjuncts including presumption of continued employment for NTT faculty members after nine consecutive academic years effective fall 2025; and multi-semester appointments for adjuncts after working at least four consecutive years; and
• expanded benefits that include paid parental leave for librarians and academic professionals and prescription drug benefits for adjunct faculty.

The full proposal can be viewed here. 

From the beginning, the university has expressed and demonstrated an interest in a timely settlement of a fair contract that benefits our faculty members and the Temple community. Over the last year, the university has worked diligently and collaboratively to do so. 

The university hopes TAUP will take the current significant economic and wage proposal to the membership for a vote as soon as possible so that our faculty, librarians and academic professionals can receive long overdue increased salaries and benefits, and the Temple community can remain focused on the mission of educating our students. 

Sincerely, 

Sharon Boyle
Vice President for Human Resources