Many college professors are unionized - see the California Faculty Association for an example. The parent probably went to a school where they were.

At least in America they rarely go on strike. My undergrad institution in suburban Toronto was infamous for strike-related class cancellations.

I'm in complete agreement with your point about non-academic expenditures, though. There's a large 'four-year party' market out there, and the fight for those students' tuition dollars has led to an arms race in campus luxury spending.