We report the work function phi for single and polycrytalline alpha-uranium over the temperature range 173 <= T <= 873K. Photoemission spectroscopy (PES) measurements were made at energies 21 eV and 40 eV. Surfaces were prepared in situ by sputter/ annealing cycles under UHV conditions. Like most metals the polycrystalline specimens showed little temperature dependence, the change in the work function Delta phi = 1 %. Conversely the single crystal changed by 5 % over the same temperature range. A sudden temperature arrest in Delta phi centered at 500 K was detected in the single crystal. This arrest coincides with the ductile-to-brittle (dilation change) transformation temperature.