Tufts student campaign for janitors and union labor, 2014-2016

Between fall 2014 and fall 2016, students with the Tufts Labor Coalition (TLC) organized to oppose the Tufts University administration's janitorial layoffs and use of non-union contracts. Their campaign began when the university announced job cuts and restructuring. Their protests included a petition, a silent demonstration, marches, a 33-hour sit-in in Ballou Hall, with some actions coordinated or in solidarity with the union representing Tufts janitors, SEIU 32BJ. In 2016, their campaign advocated in support of SEIU 32BJ's negotations for a new contract with Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) Services, the private company responsible for providing janitor services at Tufts. Throughout the campaign, the Tufts administration signed multiple short term agreements to not layoff workers and to provide transparency and accountability. The new contract for SEIU 32BJ, which Tufts janitors overwhelmingly approved and TLC supported, provided several victories including lower health care costs and future hourly raises, although it did not address workload.