Around 150 undergraduate resident assistants (RAs) are planning a one-day strike, disrupting the move-in process for hundreds of first-year students according to the Boston Globe. The strike comes after months of negotiations between the university and the union representing the RAs, the United Labor of Tufts Residents Assistants (ULTRA), with little progress being made.
The primary issue at hand is a compensation dispute. RAs at Tufts are currently provided free housing and a meal plan but are demanding a semesterly stipend, to more effectively deal with financial demands faced by RAs. According to Boston 25 News, negotiations between ULTRA and the university began in February, with RAs seeking an economic counterproposal. However, progress has been slow, and management has not met the union's demands.
In response to the strike announcement, the university has released a statement defending its bargaining efforts. A spokesperson for Tufts, Kalimah Redd Knight, said the university has made several proposals and has been working to address workplace concerns. Acknowledging the differences in opinion, the university remains committed to bargain in good faith, according to NBC Boston.
ULTRA, in a statement, claimed that the university has repeatedly rejected their proposal for a stipend. With 89% of union members voting in favor of strike authorization, the union seems ready to take a stand, even if it causes disruptions on move-in day.
As the strike looms, the university has assured students and parents that it has robust contingency plans in place to support them.
