The Vermont senator Bernie Sanders wrote a message on his social media supporting the indefinite strike the Temple University graduate workers announced yesterday. 

The Temple University Graduate Students’ Association (TUGSA) called the strike after a year of non successful negotiations with the university administration for fair pay, affordable dependent healthcare, and increased parental leave. Read more about their demands here. 

Many local leaders have been supporting the strike, but yesterday TUGSA received a really special message. Sen. Sanders wrote on Twitter: “I stand in solidary with Temple @TUGSA_6290 grad student workers who are striking for fair pay and benefits. If Temple can afford to pay its football coach $2 million per year, it can afford to pay its grad student workers a living wage and decent benefits.”  

National union leaders and elected officials joined Temple’s graduate teachers and researchers on the strike line today. Among the important names are: American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, Mayoral Candidate Helen Gym, State Senator Nikil Saval, State Representative Elizabeth Fiedler, and State Representative Mary Isaacson. 

Along with TUGSA workers, they “are demanding the contract they deserve,” according to TUGSA’s press release.

To learn more about the strike and TUGSA’s goals, visit tugsa.org.