By Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — The California State University system is arranging extra security, reminding students about their academic obligations and taking other steps to minimize the disruption of a potential faculty strike next month, a high-ranking university official said Tuesday.
Vice Chancellor for Human Resources Lori Lamb told the system’s Board of Trustees at a meeting in Long Beach that Cal State expects its 23 campuses to remain open and some classes to be held during the five-day strike scheduled by the California Faculty Association.
“We certainly respect the right of faculty to strike, if it comes to that,” Lamb said. “However, it’s incumbent upon all of us to make sure it is done in a manner that is safe and respectful to everyone and does not interfere with the ability of students to complete courses and graduate.”
The faculty association, which also represents counselors, librarians and athletic coaches, has scheduled a strike for April 13-15 and April 18-19 unless the system before then increases the size of the pay raises the union’s 26,000 members will receive this school year.
Along with staffing campus police and security departments at full capacity on those days, campuses are making plans to have backup mental health counselors available for students and alerting other employee unions their contracts prohibited them from engaging in sympathy strikes, Lamb said.
Administrators also are warning professors and instructors that it’s illegal for them to promote the strike during their classes in the weeks ahead, she said.
