I want to respond to the recent articles about the custodial negotiations that have appeared in Tufts Daily. Since assuming the Presidency of Tufts, President Bacow has articulated a set of guiding principles on the issue of our custodians. These principles were published in a Viewpoint article that appeared in the Daily in 2002. First and foremost, Tufts is an ethical institution that treats all who work here fairly.
It is important to recognize that the negotiations underway are between the contractor, OneSource, and its employees, the custodians who are represented by their union. We respect the ongoing collective bargaining process and are not a party to those negotiations. Vice President John Roberto and I have met with SLAM representatives to discuss the custodial compensation issue. While we are always willing to have a candid discussion, it would be inappropriate for the University to undertake separate negotiations either with the Service Employees International Union that legally represents the custodians, or with those students who have constituted themselves as SLAM.
When the negotiations concluded on the existing contract, SLAM congratulated the administration for agreeing to a contract that was fair to the workers. Therefore, it is puzzling that those terms that were once widely praised are now under attack as unfair to the custodians.
Tufts encourages its students to speak openly about their views on important societal issues. But such speech should be conducted in a manner that respects the rights of other members of our community. We remain committed to treating all people who perform services for Tufts, in any capacity, with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Mary R. Jeka
Vice President for University Relations
