Tufts Dining Workers Thank You Gift!

Hi! I’m René and I am a senior graduating from Tufts University. As I reflect upon my four years at Tufts, one of the groups I am most grateful to for helping create a supportive and wonderful college experience are the Tufts dining workers. Tufts dining workers nourish Tufts students physically and emotionally; they make and serve great food, they have kept our dining facilities safe and open during the ongoing pandemic, and they often check in on us, asking how we are doing, and showing great care and kindness. I am so appreciative of all their hard work, as I know many Tufts students are, and I want to organize an end-of-the-year thank you.

There are currently 191 full-time and part-time dining workers including grillers, servers, cashiers, and more (not including student workers). I would like for the Tufts community and beyond to come together and raise funds to give each of these workers a gift card and a thank you note. All funds raised will be distributed evenly amongst all workers.

It is disappointing that a $20 gift card in some workers’ cases is significant and helpful. This thank you gift is not a remedy or solution to the lack of structural support our dining workers earn and deserve. Tufts University should pay dining workers quality wages and benefits. Alongside making this thank you gift a reality, we hope the Tufts community and beyond will mobilize to support dining workers in achieving more fair and quality contracts.

For Tufts students, when donating please take into consideration if you have financial stability and privilege, including financial stability and privilege you may have soon upon the start of high-paying jobs (I’m looking at you comp sci majors!). Please also consider donating an amount comparable to, or greater, than what you have spent on Senior Week or other end-of-year celebrations. If you were able (or unable) to get a senior week cruise ticket, for example, consider investing the same amount, or more, in this important cause.

Thank you so much for your donations and support. I will accept donations until Sunday, May 15th and I aim to buy and distribute the gift cards and cards by Friday, May 20th. Picture updates will be shared to assure the proper usage of all donations.

Thank you so much! Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, concerns, or if you want to get further involved. Tufts underclassmen, I would love it if we could make this an annual event!

Photo credit: Tufts Labor Coalition & Tyler Whittaker