We, the members of the Fairfield University community, call on university leadership and dining administration to support fair and equitable compensation for the dedicated workers at Tully Dining Commons. These employees play a vital role in our daily campus life, providing essential services that sustain our community, foster connection, and enhance the student experience.

Fairfield University’s Jesuit mission emphasizes respect for human dignity, care for the whole person (cura personalis), and a commitment to justice. Supporting the workers who contribute so meaningfully to campus life reflects these values in action. Ensuring that Tully workers receive an $8 wage increase, meaningful dental benefit improvements, and a $2 retirement contribution adjustment is not simply a financial matter—it is a question of fairness, dignity, and ethical responsibility.

Dining staff members are essential workers whose labor directly impacts student well-being and the functioning of our university. Competitive wages and strong benefits help promote stability, reduce financial stress, and demonstrate that Fairfield values the people who serve our community every day. Investing in workers strengthens morale, encourages retention, and builds a more equitable campus environment that reflects our shared commitment to social justice.

As members of a Jesuit institution that encourages us to be “men and women for and with others,” we believe Fairfield has an opportunity to lead by example. We respectfully urge university leadership to work collaboratively with Tully workers to secure fair compensation, improved dental coverage, and strengthened retirement contributions that reflect their contributions and uphold the values Fairfield strives to embody.

By signing this petition, we stand in solidarity with Tully Dining workers and advocate for fair treatment, dignity in labor, and a campus culture grounded in justice, respect, and community.