September 1st Protest in Support of Laid Off
Kean University EmployeesSeptember 3, 2010
On September 1, 2010, the Kean Federation of Teachers Executive Board protested the announced lay off of twelve professional staff members by picketing at the main entrance to the campus during Kean’s Opening Day event. Unlike all the other state colleges and universities in our bargaining unit, only Kean has resorted to layoffs.
About twenty five KFT leaders and Council staff held signs opposing the layoffs and linking them with reduced student services. One sign publicized the faculty’s recent 83% no-confidence vote in the administration of President Dawood Farahi and another contrasted the layoffs at Kean with the absence of layoffs at kindred institutions. Among those receiving layoff notices are two members of the KFT Executive Board and five employees with twenty or more years of seniority.
New Jersey Network sent a reporter to interview KFT President James Castiglione and a segment appeared on television that evening. Castiglione challenged the layoffs as unjust and easily avoidable.
In a show of solidarity, AFT/New Jersey Federation President Bill Lipkin and Communications Director Nat Bender also walked the line.
The layoffs will not be effective until the end of February 2011. Meanwhile the KFT and the Council will make every effort to save these jobs.
