Its membership includes academics, researchers, teachers and workers employed in all occupations in universities, polytechnics, institutes of technology, wānanga, other tertiary education providers and allied organisations.

[2] The Tertiary Institutions Allied Staff Association (TIASA) voted not to amalgamate[3] and remain independent.

[11][12] and giving out awards, including to Mike Joy, an academic at Massey University who had a high-profile clash with Prime Minister John Key.

[13][14][15] Under the Employment Relations Act 2000 there are limits on what actions a union can take in support of employment relations involving employees other than union members, but the TEU supports the Living Wage Movement Aotearoa NZ which campaigns to raise the legal minimum wage.

[18] The Tertiary Education Union has engaged in strike action on multiple occasions to advocate pay increases.