The Student Labor Action Movement (SLAM)'s negotiations with OneSource have been extended for the third time after the custodial contractor refused to renew its three-year-old contract with Tufts' janitors, opting instead for another round of talks this week.
OneSource officials, custodians, union representatives, and SLAM students met in Boston last Thursday - the original deadline for negotiations - without resolution, leaving Tufts' custodians without an agreement for the time being.
The company had already extended the deadline by three months to discuss demands by SLAM and members of Service Employee International Union Chapter 254. The two asked the company that Tufts pays to clean the University to increase job security for its employees, put standards of labor in writing, increase wages, provide sick days and family health insurance, and offer full-time work to custodians.
After last week's negotiations, OneSource officials told students and union representatives that they would meet with Tufts administrators and present their final offer on Thursday. Students and union representatives said the recent meeting gave them an idea of the new contractual provisions.
Senior Iris Halpern, a SLAM organizer, said SLAM and the union made several concessions regarding the number of sick days and the wage increase. But she said the company did not offer family health insurance, sick days, or a "decent salary" in its proposal.
"There has to be some give-and-take, but there are some things that are not acceptable," Halpern said. The custodians "know it will get worse without a contract, but they also are not going to accept a shoddy contract that will last the next thee years."
Because no agreement was reached, custodians will be paid and work under the terms of the old contract this week. Technically, they do not have the safety net of a contract should they be subject to job-related injuries. John Roberto, the University's vice president of operations, said he was aware that OneSource and the union were negotiating. "There is communication that always takes place," he said. "We talk to OneSource quite frequently. I still believe the collective bargaining process needs to play itself out."
Since the University is only observing the situation, Roberto said, the administration cannot distinguish how far apart the two sides' proposals stand.
"We are monitoring the situation, and are aware of the discussions, but are not actively participating in the negotiations," Roberto said. "We're very much interested, but it is inappropriate for us to be involved in the specific day-to-day negotiations."
Roberto added that he hopes negotiations will continue until both OneSource and the union reach a contract suitable for both sides. "I would hope that as long as both parties continue to advance proposals that can be taken seriously by the other party," he said. "I would hope that they would continue talking to each other."
SLAM will continue to pressure the administration, particularly about job security and family health care, according to Halpern. SLAM members held a meeting last night to discuss new strategies before the Thursday deadline.
"It's kind of an annoying game, but it's people lives, and it's sad that this is the way it's always handled," Halpern said.
After seeing OneSource's offer last Thursday, Halpern said the workers' mood has become serious and solemn.
