To the Board of Trustees of Tufts University:
For nearly a year, serious concerns have been raised about contractors hired to perform work on Tufts University’s campus and the labor standards these contractors promote. At the heart of these concerns is the belief that Tufts should reflect its values in the way it builds and in who it builds with.
Tufts has long promoted its commitment to integrity, opportunity, responsibility, and preparing leaders for lifelong careers. That mission should extend to the contractors and companies entrusted with physically building the future of the campus.
We, members of the Tufts community, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, and local residents who value fairness, diversity, and accountability — respectfully submit:
THAT contractors with a documented history of wage theft, labor violations, or disregard for worker protections should not be given access to University-funded construction projects. When institutions like Tufts allow such contractors to operate on campus, they not only undermine fair labor standards but also send a troubling message about whose rights and dignity matter. Holding contractors accountable is essential to ensuring that campus development aligns with the University’s values of fairness, responsibility, and respect for all workers.
THAT registered apprenticeship programs are a proven pathway to opportunity, offering hands-on training, long-term career skills, and economic mobility to those historically excluded from the construction industry, especially women and people of color. Despite this, Tufts has not prioritized contractors who participate in such programs, resulting in job sites that fail to reflect the diversity and values the University claims to champion. This gap between principle and practice raises deep concerns about how Tufts approaches equity, opportunity, and accountability in its development decisions.
WHEREUPON, we respectfully call upon the Tufts University Board of Trustees to take immediate and concrete steps to align the University’s construction practices with its stated values. Specifically, we urge the Board to:
- Require that all general contractors, and their subcontractors at any tier — engaged in on-site construction work valued at $10 million or more on University property maintain or participate in a bona fide apprenticeship training program approved by the Division of Apprentice Standards of the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Workforce Development; and
- Implement clear guidelines to ensure that contractors with a history of wage theft, labor violations, or tax fraud are excluded from bidding on or participating in Tufts-funded construction projects.
By taking these steps, the University would not only expand access to life-changing careers for underrepresented communities but also ensure that campus development is rooted in fairness, dignity, and opportunity for all.