Dear Editor,
In response to the news article in the March 14 Daily regarding the forum held by the Jumbo Janitors Alliance (JJA), I feel it is important to point out what we believe are inaccuracies.
While Mr. Aramayo commented on the "anti-union rhetoric often surrounding unionizing efforts at Tufts," the University has been working with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) as the union representing the custodial workers for many years. Further, as The Daily has previously reported, Tufts insisted that any contractor responding to our request for proposal last year must respect the contract with SEIU and hire any worker at the University who re-applied and met federal documentation requirements. Our new contractor, UGLUnicco, has met those requirements.
The comment was made that "about 60 of those workers didn't pass the hiring process." It is my understanding that fewer than 30 employees of the prior contractor either didn't reapply or were unable to provide the necessary documentation despite being given 90 days to do so.
Another question was "I don't know why the subcontractors for janitorial service are changing so often." The prior contractor, ISS/OneSource/American Building Maintenance (ABM), had been under contract starting in 1997 until the re-bidding of the service last year. During those 14 years, ISS split its operations with the United States business, becoming OneSource, which was later purchased by ABM.
Finally, although apparently not discussed at the forum, we are pleased that a disagreement regarding staffing shortly after the new contract was put in place has been resolved. Following discussions between SEIU and UGL the union has agreed to withdraw their grievance alleging that UGL failed to appropriately post available positions at Tufts University.
I remain, as previously discussed with the JJA, available to meet to discuss whatever issues they have in an effort to be transparent.
Sincerely,
Dick Reynolds
Vice President of Operations
