from the President

     Each April, in conjunction with the NCEA Convention, the National Association of Catholic School Teachers publishes a Lay Teacher Salary Survey.  Superintendents and Union Presidents from across the country faithfully fill in the numbers and return the forms to our Office for which we continue to be truly grateful.  The Survey is much sought after at our Convention booth.  Administrators and teachers alike furiously scan the listing to see who are the "best" and the "worst" of the underpaid.
     As a corollary to the Salary Survey, the April issue of Newsworthy zeroes in on the subject of Catholic teachers and their right to organize, since it has been documented by the NCEA that, as a general rule, unionized teachers receive higher salaries and better benefits than their unorganized colleagues.
     One of the primary purposes of NACST is to assist elementary and secondary lay teachers who express an interest in organizing for the purpose of collective bargaining.  Keep in mind that salary and benefits, although vital, are not the only reasons teachers seek to form an organization.  A negotiated contract contains language covering every aspect of a teacher's work life - duties and assignments, transfers, seniority, sick, personal and maternity leaves, tenure and retirement, to name some of the major areas.  By far, the most important article in any contract, however, is the one which delineates due process or the grievance procedure.  If there is no mechanism for the resolving of disputes, there is no real contract.
     With over one hundred years of Catholic social teaching on the right of workers to form unions and to participate without risk of reprisal, you would think that just about every Catholic school teacher would be represented by an association of his/her own choosing, duly recognized by the bishop/archbishop as a full partner in the educational enterprise.
 The U.S. Bishops in their Economic Pastoral state that "All the moral principles that govern the just operation of any economic endeavor apply to the church and its agencies and institutions; indeed, the Church should be exemplary."  This, most definitely, is the teaching, but, unfortunately it is light years from the reality in a number of dioceses/archdioceses.
     ACE Educators in the Archdiocese of St. Louis has been attempting to become the elementary lay teachers' recognized bargaining agent for over six years.  Their request for recognition and collective bargaining have been repeatedly rebuffed.  We are glad to hear that they are, once again, going to actively work to achieve their quest.  The National Association applauds their tenacity and we look forward to working with them.
     What is it about "All Church institutions must also fully recognize the rights of employees to organize and bargain collectively with the institution through whatever association or organization they freely choose," that some of our bishops do not understand?  How will their brother bishops advise them concerning the teachings which they, themselves, have promulgated?
     What is the force of the U.S. Bishops' Economic Pastoral when it warns employers that "No one may deny the right to organize without attacking human dignity itself?"
     Happily for the Catholic Church and for its over one-hundred thousand lay teachers, there are many bishops who recognize the right of teachers to unionize and to negotiate as full partners.  These bishops value dignity and justice more than power and control.  They have a true concern for the well-being of those who labor in their vineyards.
     For teachers who seek true partnership in the educational enterprise from their employer through a recognized teacher association, the National Association of Catholic School Teachers pledges its support and its assistance.  Working with you, we'll do whatever it takes for the teaching to become the reality.

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Catholic School Teachers: Why Unionize? keep good teachers in Catholic schools by:      •  putting the Church's labor teaching into practice      •  having a voice in working conditions, salaries, and benefits      •  fairly resolving legitimate disputes      •  treating teachers with respect & professionalism Catholic School Teachers: How Can We Unionize?      •  by talking to your colleagues at school      •  by becoming informed of locals in your area      •  by contacting NACST: Rita Schwartz, President NACST Suite 903 1700 Sansom St. Philadelphia, PA 19103 phone: (800) 99NACST email: nacst.nacst@verizon.net

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USCCB - Congressional Advocacy Days     NACST officials joined parents, teachers, Catholic school administrators and national Church officials March 2-4, 2003 in Washington, D.C. for the annual Congressional Advocacy Days conference.  The event was sponsored by the Department of Education of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.      CAD participants were addressed by: Theodore Cardinal McCarrick [Washington, DC], Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Policy; Hon. John A. Boehner, U.S. Representative from OH, Chairman, House Committee on Education and the Workforce; Dr. John Convey, Ph.D. - Catholic University of America; Sr. Dale McDonald, NCEA; and, researchers and staffers from the USCCB, the U.S. Dept. of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and the Semate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.      Presentations focused on the upcoming reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, "accountability" provisions driving education agendas today, tax credit legislation, and current legislative programs and initiatives affecting Catholic school students, parents, and teachers.      Of particular note for Catholic school teachers is the Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program for Teachers.  At the current time, teachers in schools [both public and nonpublic] which are listed in the Annual Directory of Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits may receive up to $5,000 loan forgiveness.  Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate to increase that amount to $17,000.  Conditions to qualify for the loan forgiveness program are available at http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/cancelstaff.jsp?tab=repaying.  The site includes a printable application for the loan forgiveness and further information about the program which is available for Catholic school teachers.  Work to secure the passage of the 2003 legislation increasing the loan forgiveness amount is being undertaken by NACST and affiliated locals.      CAD participants were encouraged to use the information presented at the conference to promote inclusion of Catholic school parents and students in federal education programs.  Further information from the USCCB is available at usccb.org/education.

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