Dear Faculty and Instructors,
As many of you may already know, the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) has notified UC of its intent to strike. We also expect the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) employees to hold a sympathy strike.
A communication was sent out to managers and supervisors yesterday regarding the 24-hour strike planned for 4:00am Wednesday, March 20 through 3:59am Thursday, March 21, and the expected impacts to campus services during this period. We offer the following information to help you plan:
Classroom Lockouts & Facilities Issues: Facilities Services will focus on maintaining regular service for classrooms and libraries. If you have a problem on the days you teach, please contact (510) 642-1032 to obtain timely assistance.
Education Technology Service (ETS) Service Advisory: We anticipate possible delays in responses to support requests for some of our services, including bCourses and classroom technology, due to limited capacity anticipated during the strike. Please check the ETS website for more information.
Parking & Transportation: Campus shuttle service may not be available during the day and the night safety shuttle will have a reduced schedule. Stacked parking is not expected to be available. Those who normally rely on these services should make alternate plans and may want to allow extra time for transit. The Loop will continue to be available to students, faculty, and staff with disabilities.
Student Attendance: According to COCI guidelines, individual faculty members are encouraged to handle missed courses and exams according to their usual instructional policies.
The Academic Student Employee (ASE) bargaining unit covers GSIs, readers, and tutors. While no ASE strike is planned, the current ASE contract recognizes the right of individual ASEs to participate in activities in sympathy with other UC unions.
If ASEs support your class, we encourage you to have a backup plan in place to ensure that classes will continue as scheduled. Please consult with your department leadership if you need assistance in creating a plan for your class, and notify them if an ASE does not report for their regular assignment.
The Center for Teaching and Learning and ETS have also collaborated on a resource to help leverage digital tools to ensure continuity of instruction, and are always happy to work with you directly on tool selection and usage. For in-person support, visit the Academic Innovation Studio (117 Dwinelle, M-F, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.).
Sincerely,
A. Paul Alivisatos
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Barbara Spackman
Chair, Academic Senate - Berkeley Division