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Among the Locals - no summer vacation from union work BATA - congratulations and best of luck to Lew Pedi, incoming president who replaces Bob Anspach.  Special thanks to Bob for the many years at the helm of BATA, especially during the Archdiocese's attempts at "spinning off" schools and the negative impact of the priests' sex abuse scandal in Boston. DETA - president Sue Manzella reports that one Buffalo elementary school negotiations ended in teacher ratification of a three year contract with pay increases of 6.25% in the first year, 6.25% in the second year and a wage re-opener in the third year.  The union has filed a grievance in another school on behalf of a teacher whose hours were cut back, with loss of tenure and benefits. SRTA - negotiations successfully concluded at St. Rose in Belmar NJ for teaching staff and the teacher aides have now gotten recognition and begun the negotiation process. STEA - the newest chartered local is St. Theresa School in Harrisburg PA.  The local is the first unionized school in the Harrisburg Diocese and the union has met with the pastor and superintendent to begin the process of recognition and collective bargaining.  Congratulations to president Deborah Foote. UCCEA - congratulations to president Ellen Piccolo and the teachers at Our Lady of Peace in New Providence NJ for the successful conclusion of negotiations leading to their second contract. YCDT - president Barb Demesko reports that the Youngstown high school teachers  ratified a three year contract, and elementary school negotiations will begin this November.

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from the President

     As I write this Labor Day Statement 2003, the 1000 + members of the Association of Catholic Teachers, Local 1776, who work in the 22 high schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, are walking a picket line.  During the last two months of the past school year, these teachers had worn buttons stating WE WILL IF WE HAVE TO. Unfortunately, they had to.

     On Tuesday, September 2nd, they voted 3-1 to reject the contract presented to them. The basic issues are medical premiums, salary, early retirement provisions and some nonmonetary working conditions. The teachers on the line are unified, strong and resolute. They want the School System to know that they are feeling a lack of respect both for themselves and for the job that they do.

     Throughout the entire negotiations, the Association’s Negotiating Team and the teachers have been hearing from the School System that, ”according to a survey of 72 dioceses conducted by the National Association of Catholic School Teachers, the Archdiocese’s secondary school teaching salaries rank among the highest in the nation. The starting salary of $30,300 was the third highest in the survey and the  maximum salary was the sixth highest in the survey.”

     What I say to the various TV and newspaper reporters who bring this up is that Philadelphia Archdiocesan high school teachers are among “the best of the underpaid.” There are still teachers in non-unionized schools in other dioceses whose salaries would qualify them for food stamps. Starting salaries of $13,000 and $14,000 with BA Maximums of $16,000 and $18,000 certainly register too low to be detected on the social justice scale.

     Much has been written about the Catholic Church as an employer. Most of it reads very well, but it somehow seems to break down when it needs to come off the page and into the pocketbook. In many cases, when you add in due process and job security, you go beyond breakdown and enter meltdown.

     I wish all teachers in Catholic schools a happy and productive year in the classroom. For those who will be at the bargaining table this coming school year and for those, like the teachers in Philadelphia, who still are, I pray for a fair and just settlement, a settlement that truly reflects the social justice teachings of our Church.

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ACT on Strike ACT members at 22 Philadelphia Archdiocesan high schools went on strike September 2.  The strike affects nearly 23,000 students in the Archdiocese.  The vote was 669 to 231 to strike. The main issues were salary & employee contributions to health care.  The Archdiocese offered teachers a three-year deal with pay increases totaling $3500 per teacher over the life of the contract. At the same time the diocesan offer increased teacher payments to the health benefits plan, with no cap for teachers on increases in the second and third years of the pact. Teachers voted down the proposal stating that the small salary increases would barely cover the potential increases in medical insurance. Negotiations resumed three days after the strike began. ACT members last went on strike was in 1997.  That strike lasted 10 days. [Update: The 2003 strike was settled September 15, with teachers returning to classes Tuesday September 16, following the two week work stoppage.]

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The Union Advantage ... by the Numbers union workers earn higher wages and get better benefits than workers who don't have a union voice on the job Median Weekly Earnings Union workers  $740 Nonunion workers $587 Union wage advantage 26% Women's Weekly Earnings Union workers $667 Nonunion workers $510 Union wage advantage 31% Guaranteed [defined-benefit] pension Union workers 69% Nonunion workers 14% Union pension advantage 53% Health Benefits Union workers 75% Nonunion workers 49% Union health benefits advantage 26% Short-term Disability Union workers 69% Nonunion workers 30% Union disability coverage advantage 39% Life Insurance Coverage Union workers 82% Nonunion workers 51% Union life insurance advantage 31% sources: US Dept of Labor, Employment & Earnings January 2003 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Benefits in Private Industry 2000

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For the 2003-2004 school year: ‘Unite for a Drug Free World - Plant the Promise!' Red Ribbon Week 2003      Red Ribbon Week  raises awareness and rallies communities to fight drug, alcohol and tobacco use among youth.      To make participation both simple and easy, NFP has teamed up with TulipWorld.com, an award-winning Dutch bulb site to offer on-line bulb packages designed to suit every climate and budget. Packages can be viewed  here.

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U.S. Mint Teachers' Network "Coins in the Classroom" Contest      The U.S. Mint offers a variety of programs and services for teachers in grades K through 8.  The government department has established the U.S. Mint's H.I.P Pocket Change Website to make its services easily accessible.      In order to promote the Mint's programs a "Coins in the Classroom" contest is being held through mid-October to recognize the most exciting and innovative methods of teaching with coins.  The contest offers prizes worth a combined value of nearly $700 as well as national recognition.      Participants will submit lesson plans which will be judged on their educational content, clarity, originality, accuracy, and their connection to coins.  Click here to access the website and to participate in the contest.      The major goal of the contest is to maximize the quality of educational resources available at the Mint's website.

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Low-Income School Teachers' Student Loan Forgiveness Program       Participation in the teacher student-loan forgiveness program is available not only for teachers in low income schools but also in two other categories.  Those other categories are teachers of students with disabilities and teachers of subjects in which the State Education Agency has determined that there is a "teacher shortage."      For a listing of the cancellation/deferment options available go here.      Further information is provided at the FSA HELPLINE  1-800-433-3243 (1-800-4FEDAID) and here.      To check if the school in which you are teaching is a designated low-income school go here.       To check if the subject you are teaching has been designated by your state as having a teacher shortage go here.

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