ICYMI: Janitors at Tufts Authorize Strike If No Deal Reached

MEDFORD, MA – A work stoppage could be on the horizon for janitors at Tufts University, who voted Thursday to authorize a strike if a new contract agreement isn't reached with the university's maintenance contractor by Monday.

The potential strike stems from a contract dispute between the janitors and Tufts' cleaning contractor, C&W Services; the university itself is not involved in the negotiations, according to The Boston Globe.

In a statement to the Globe, 32BJ SEIU, the union representing the workers, said they are seeking more full-time openings, cost of living wage increases and affordable health benefits.

Their current contract expires Monday.

For its part, C&W Services says it has been negotiating "in good faith" with the union and "proposed a wage increase, family health insurance coverage with no employee contribution, increases in the Union’s Pension and Training Funds as well as contributions to the Union’s Legal Services Fund," according to a statement sent to WBUR.

The latest contract extends to nearly 200 janitors at Tufts' main campus.

By Daderot (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Story originally published Oct. 27.