Memorandum to:  The Baruch College Community
From:    Ned Regan
Re:    Planning for a Possible Transit Strike
Date:   12 December 2002

In the event of a transit strike, the University will remain open and
operational. All employees are expected to report to work. As
communication to our community will be critical, up-to-date
information and any changes to the final exam schedule will be
posted on the CollegeÕs website (www.baruch.cuny.edu) and
available via a telephone hotline at 646-312-INFO.

Final Examinations

Because it is not clear whether a transit strike will occur, or how long it
might last, students and faculty should continue to prepare as if the
exam period will proceed normally. In the event of a strike, the
cancellation of exams will be considered on a daily basis. If City
subway and bus systems are not running by 6:00 a.m. on an exam
day, all exams for that day (and evening) will be cancelled and
rescheduled, most likely during the January intersession. If
transportation systems are running by 6:00 a.m., students and faculty
should proceed with exams as scheduled. Information about whether
exams will take place as scheduled, and/or when rescheduled exams
will take place, will be available on the CollegeÕs website and via the
telephone hotline.

 As we will be in the midst of final exams if and when a strike occurs,
adequate staffing of the library and other student-oriented functions
are a high priority.

College Employees

All employees should discuss with their supervisors any hardships
they would face traveling to campus in the event of a strike.
Supervisors are encouraged to be flexible, permitting, where possible,
staggered work schedules or other arrangements designed to
maximize institutional efficiency. The Office of Human Resources has
compiled rosters of employees by zip-code to facilitate carpooling. If
you are interested in learning of colleagues who live near you and may
be interested in traveling together, please contact the Director of
Human Resources via email at [log in to unmask]

Time and Leave Policies for All Employees Other Than Those
Designated as Essential

I. Classified Staff
The time and leave rules set forth in the Blue and White Collar
contracts apply. Full-time classified staff members who are unable to
report to work will be allowed to use either their annual leave or
compensatory time balances to cover their absences.

College Assistants are paid only for time worked, and may be offered
the opportunity, if possible, to make up the hours lost.

II. Instructional Staff
If classes are in session, teaching faculty, including adjunct teaching
faculty, who are unable to meet classes, are expected to make up
these classes. Full-time non-teaching instructional staff who are
unable to report to work will be offered the option of using annual
leave or taking a salary deduction, in accordance with the rules
enunciated in the most recent arbitration case between the PSC and
CUNY concerning severe weather conditions. Employees in
non-teaching adjunct titles, the Continuing Education Teacher title,
and adjunct or hourly College Laboratory Technician series titles are
paid only for time worked, and may be offered the opportunity, if
possible, to make up the hours lost.

III. Advance of Annual Leave
For both classified staff and non-teaching instructional staff, advance
annual leave will be offered to employees who do not have sufficient
annual leave and must utilize annual leave as a consequence of strike
conditions.

Lateness
Unless staff members are able to walk to the College, they may well
encounter delays in getting to work. Obviously staff should allow
considerable extra time for travel, but reasonable lateness caused by
the failure of public transportation will be excused.

Early Departures
If an employee finds it necessary to leave work before the end of the
regular work period, it will be allowed upon permission of the
immediate supervisor. Such time will be charged to annual leave or, if
available, to compensatory time.

Designated Essential Staff
Instructional and classified staff who are designated essential
employees for the purposes of emergencies at the College are
reminded of their responsibility to report to work as scheduled.

I know you join me in hoping that the Transport Workers Union and the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority will find an acceptable common
ground in the next few days and we will avoid the inevitable difficulties
a strike would entail. I am confident, however, that if we must face this
challenge, we will do it with the grace, good humor, and
professionalism that has always characterized our community.

Many thanks.