Somerville schools brace for up to $1 million in budget cuts amid city deficit

Tufts unions allege bad-faith bargaining by university

Over the last decade, negotiations between Tufts University and labor unions have degraded. Multiple unions described challenging and exhausting negotiations, citing the university’s uncooperativeness and staunch resistance to increases in pay as driving forces behind the recent growth of collective action. Alternatively, the university expressed that its negotiation policies have been grounded in fiscally-responsible decision-making and an earnest desire to reach agreements. The university reports that it continues to view its union relationships as productive and successful.