Agenda Text
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Supporting Tufts University's contracted custodial staff.
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Official Text
WHEREAS, The contract custodial staff at Tufts University work hard to provide a clean and safe Environment for the students, faculty and staff of Tufts University; and
WHEREAS, Tufts University is nationally recognized as an elite educational institution; and
WHEREAS, The City of Somerville provides many services to Tufts University, and Tufts plays an important role in the economic life of our City; and
WHEREAS, Tufts’ endowment was $1.6 billion as of June 30, 2014; Tufts achieved a 14.2% investment return for fiscal year 2014; and Tufts reported operating revenue of $791.5 million in the year ending June 30, 2014;and
WHEREAS, Tufts University has approved a reorganization plan it sought from DTZ, its contractor, to eliminate about 35 part-time custodial staff positions (out of a total of about 207) in order to reduce costs; and
WHEREAS, The elimination of these jobs will cause tremendous hardship for the laid-off workers and their families and send shockwaves through the working-class communities in Somerville and neighboring cities and towns; and
WHEREAS, The elimination of these jobs will place an additional burden on those custodians who continue to work at Tufts, who will have more work to do in the same amount of time; NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, That this Board of Aldermen recognizes the importance of job security in the workplace, which allows workers to provide for their families and invest in the local community; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, That this Board of Aldermen affirms that all workers in Somerville deserve and need stable, good-quality jobs; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, That this Board of Aldermen strongly urges Tufts University to take all necessary steps to prevent these job cuts, and if workers are laid off, that it guarantee every single one of the laid-off workers an equivalent position with DTZ, Tufts’ custodial contractor.