CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) --Part-time faculty at Chicago's Columbia College have voted to strike on Monday.
Nearly 600 adjunct instructors belong to the Columbia College Faculty Union, which said that 88% of them voted to strike.
The union accuses Columbia's administration of putting profits ahead of the needs of students, faculty and the college.
The union claims Columbia eliminated hundreds of classes, even though students were enrolled in them, and increased the number of students in other classes.
"Despite repeated attempts to collaborate with the Kim administration to address student needs and faculty's equity concerns, college leaders continue to reject our efforts and ignore the voices of Columbia's students and educators," said Diana Vallera, CFAC president and photography professor referring to Columbia's president Kwang-Wu Kim.
"This administration has made it clear that they do not intend to work with us to find solutions, so they have forced us to strike to make our voices heard."
In a statement to the Chicago Tribune, a Columbia spokesperson said the administration is “disappointed” by the union’s decision to strike and remains committed to good-faith bargaining.
Columbia College said in an online announcement that all campus buildings will remain open during a strike, and classes taught by faculty members who are not part of the union will be held as normal.
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