Catholic high school teachers reject contract
Teachers at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's 17 high schools, educating 13,500 students, unanimously voted Wednesday night to reject a proposed one-year contract, saying that the wage increase the archdiocese offered would not even cover the rise in medical-insurance premiums.
Teachers at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's 17 high schools, educating 13,500 students, unanimously voted Wednesday night to reject a proposed one-year contract, saying that the wage increase the archdiocese offered would not even cover the rise in medical-insurance premiums.
Rita Schwartz, president of Local 1776 of the Association of Catholic Teachers, said the proposed agreement "went down in flames" during the union's general membership meeting at the Sheet Metal Workers Hall in South Philadelphia.
The details of the proposed contract were not disclosed.
The archdiocese issued a statement expressing its disappointment with the vote, saying it was "committed to a contract agreement that respects the needs of not only our teachers but also our school families."
The existing one-year contract expires Aug. 31, but both sides have been trying to reach what is called an "early bird" settlement, limited to salaries and benefits. The entire contract can be opened up if no agreement is reached by June 1.
The current contract provided the union's 635 members a $1,200 raise this year. Schwartz said the average Catholic high school teacher has 20 years of experience and is paid $49,000 per year.
The union's last strike was in 2011. It resulted in five days of instruction lost, and the school year beginning with staggered orientation and testing days.
Catholic elementary school teachers are not unionized.
