The fonds consists of records created and received in the course of the formation, establishment and operation of the union, primarily during the period 1976-1987. The records reflect the initial drive to charter, organize and certify the union; the internal administration of the union, including elections and finance; negotiations with the administration to establish and renew contracts; efforts to maintain, expand, represent and inform the membership; participation in the provincial organization of the Association of University and College Employees and cooperation with other AUCE locals, and other unions; and involvement in industrial action. Also included are records of the Graduate Students' union, a forerunner, though not direct predecessor, of TSSU. The records include the charter and bylaws; committee agendas and minutes; financial statements; correspondence; membership lists; election materials; reports; negotiation minutes and collective agreements; mediation and hearing records; convention minutes; strike materials; publications and publicity materials. The records as received had no obvious overall arrangement. Duplicate material has been removed where practicable, but the mixed nature of the files requires researchers to be prepared to search for records on matters of interest.

Series consists of three sub-series of records relating to TSSU's involvement with AUCE Provincial, its sister locals, and other unions and union organizations. Activities documented include participation in provincial conventions and committees, liaison with AUCE locals, and the exchange of information with other unions and provincial and national labour organizations. Provincial records include the AUCE Provincial constitution, policies and procedures; convention agendas, reports, minutes, proposals, resolutions, and press releases; Affiliation Committee agendas, minutes, transcripts, reports and bulletins; Executive Committee agendas, local reports, financial statements, minutes and correspondence; and provincial bulletins and resource lists. Local records include by-laws; committee reports and minutes; correspondence; bulletins, press releases and press clippings; cross-local packages; and Labour Relations Board appeals. Other union records include, variously, constitutions and collective agreements; bargaining unit profiles, handbooks and information sheets; reports and newsletters; and resolutions and correspondence with such organizations as the Service, Office and Retail Workers' Union of Canada (SORWUC); the B.C. Federation of Labour; and the Confederation of Canadian Unions.