University administrators have built an elaborate mythology around the supposedly pernicious role of unions in the academy. Unions are intrusive third parties which create a barrier to open communication within the university. A union is a means for professionals to have a legally-recognized voice in their work and in their institution. At present, there is no institutionally-sanctioned means for graduate employees, as a body, to take part in decisions that affect our lives. A recognized union opens channels of communication and ensures that our voices are heard.
Unions are destructive of collegiality and create adversarial relationships.
Unions cause the loss of positions and reduce salaries to the lowest common denominator. Unionization will lead to higher tuition and adversely affect undergraduate students. To suggest that improvements in our compensation must come directly out of undergraduates' pockets is to ignore the complexity and scale of Temple's budget. Collective bargaining will give us a say in the allocation of university resources. Unionization will place unwelcome financial burdens on academics because of high dues.