Tufts Facilities Workers Consider Strike As Contract Talks Stall

The famous university has workers still looking for a new contract from the city.

By Benjamin Pierce, Patch Staff

Sep 2, 2026 3:30 PM EDT | Updated Sep 2, 2026 4:03 PM EDT

MEDFORD, MA — Tufts University facilities workers are preparing to rally and potentially authorize a strike amid ongoing contract negotiations with the university.

Approximately 100 facilities workers represented by 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union will gather outside 175 Packard Ave. in Medford on Thursday, Sept. 3. The event will include remarks from workers, elected officials and community supporters before a short march into Medford and a vote to authorize the union's bargaining committee to call a strike if necessary.

The groundskeepers, skilled maintenance workers and trades workers have been working throughout the summer without a contract after their previous agreement expired on June 30. Negotiations began earlier this year, with the union seeking to close the wage gap between the unit's lowest and highest earners, reduce the percentage of health insurance costs paid by employees and gain access to the 32BJ Legal Fund. Union members previously told the Medford City Council that the two sides remained far apart after seven bargaining sessions. Workers have said they currently pay approximately 34 percent of their health insurance premiums and that Tufts initially proposed annual wage increases of 1.5 percent over three years. The Medford and Somerville city councils have both passed resolutions supporting the workers during negotiations.

"If Tufts workers vote to authorize a strike, perhaps it will be enough to move the University to finally engage meaningfully with our proposals," 32BJ SEIU Executive Vice President Kevin Brown said. "Over the past 12 months, our members at Mount Holyoke and Harvard both had to strike before winning fair contracts. We are hopeful that we can avoid striking at Tufts as students return, but we cannot accept proposals that do not recognize the university's obligation to the people who keep these campuses running through thick and thin."

The union also filed an unfair labor practice charge against Tufts with the National Labor Relations Board in July. The case remains open and includes allegations involving unilateral changes or the repudiation or modification of contract terms. The filing is an allegation from the union and does not represent a finding against Tufts.

Medford City Council President Zac Bears and Councilor Justin Tseng are expected to join workers at the rally alongside several labor and community organizations. Bears said Tufts has a responsibility to be a good neighbor to the surrounding communities and support its workers.

"As essential employees, we know that we need to be available at all hours, every day of the year," Tufts groundskeeper James Goode said. "We're proud to offer that support, so it's very frustrating that Tufts is showing us so little support in return – their last proposal included a wage increase of about two percent, which doesn't come close to the rise in the cost of living."

A vote in favor of authorizing a strike would not mean workers will immediately go on strike. It would instead give the union's bargaining committee the authority to call one if negotiations with Tufts fail to progress.