TO: The Baruch College Community

FROM: Robert M. Specter
Vice President for Administration and Finance

RE: PLANNING FOR A POSSIBLE TRANSIT STRIKE

DATE: December 12, 2005

This guidance memo describes the initial steps our community will take if
we experience a strike by employees of the NY Metropolitan Transportation
Authority. In the event of a transit strike, THE COLLEGE WILL REMAIN OPEN
and operational. Foremost in our minds is the safety and welfare of our
students, employees and visitors. We'll do our very best to maintain
services and conduct activities as usual. All employees are expected to
report to work. Updated information, instructions and any changes to the
final exam schedule will be posted on the College's website
(www.baruch.cuny.edu) and available via a telephone hotline at
646-312-INFO.

FINAL EXAMINATIONS. Since it is not clear that a transit strike will
occur, or if so, 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 postponement of exams will be determined on a
day-by-day 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 College's website and via the telephone
hotline.

Since a possible strike may coincide with our exam period, adequate
staffing of the physical plant, 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 Jeanne Blazina via email:
([log in to unmask]).

DESIGNATED "ESSENTIAL" EMPLOYEES. Instructional and classified staff who
are designated essential to maintaining operations at the College during
an emergency are reminded of their responsibility to report to work as
scheduled.

TIME AND LEAVE POLICIES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES NOT DESIGNATED AS ESSENTIAL TO
MAINTAINING OPERATIONS DURING AN EMERGENCY:

     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.

TARDINESS. Unless staff members are able to walk to the College, they may
well encounter delays in getting to work. Staff should allow considerable
extra time for travel, and 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, the immediate supervisor may, but is
not required, to permit it. Such time will be charged to annual leave or,
if available, to compensatory time.

I know you join me in hoping that the Transport Workers Union and the NY
Metropolitan Transportation Authority will find acceptable common ground
in the coming days so we may avoid the difficulties a strike would entail.
I am confident, though, that if we must face this challenge, we will do it
with the grace, good humor, and professionalism that characterizes our
community.

Many thanks.