"Bishop can get himself out of corner by letting teachers vote yes or no on union"
From the Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice, March 18, 2008
by Paul Golias, retired managing editor.
Bishop Joseph Martino has painted himself into a corner. By repeatedly stating that his decision not to recognize a teachers' union as collective bargaining representative is "final, " he has closed the door to a graceful, peaceful, fair and honorable solution to the impasse over that decision. It may be final to the bishop, but his flock is in pain.
There is a way out of this mess.
This humble suggestion comes from one who served on or chaired grievance, arbitration and contract negotiation committees on both sides of the table. As a young journalist, I served those roles in the union to which I belonged, and later in my career I did the same as part of management teams. Hopefully, these bona fides give weight to this idea.
Experience tells us that "final" offers often are tweaked or even set aside in order to achieve an agreement. This takes some courage, but a successor to the apostles should be courageous.
In his arguments in the diocesan newspaper and in letters to parents of Catholic school children, the bishop cited the total number of teachers, more than 700, and the number he says were members of the teachers' union, 200 or so.
Let's have a vote, conducted by the National Labor Relations Board or some other independent non-involved agency. Let every teacher indicate whether or not he or she wishes to have the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers represent them in collective bargaining.
This is a fundamental right. It is or should be a more profound right in the church than in the secular world because popes, bishops' conferences and theologians have repeatedly spoken to that right.
If the teachers vote for a union, Bishop Martino should set aside his "final" decision. Negotiations should begin immediately. If Bishop Martino wants to bargain tough, he can bargain tough. But he should engage in good-faith bargaining that can only happen in a true labor-management context, not in a company union-management setup.
If the teachers vote "no union," this issue is resolved.
The Catholic Church has a hierarchical structure. The pope has the final say in the universal church; bishops are the final arbiters in dioceses, and priests run their parishes. But there are ongoing democratic actions withing the church too, and it is in these actions that Bishop Martino may find the strength to set aside his "final" decision.
Eligible cardinals go into conclave and vote to elect the next pope. Conferences of bishops vote on all kinds of reports and issues. Oriental Rites elect bishops and submit the names to the pope for approval. Religious orders elect superiors, abbots and other leaders. Lay organizations in parishes elect officers and vote on contributions to parishes, charities, special projects and the like. There is a collegiality in all of these decisions, and out of that bond of togetherness emerges a stronger church. Even those on the losing end of votes feel united in what they have been taught is the Truth of One Body.
Only Bishop Martino can open the door that will gather his flock, and the wider community, together again.
He must act quickly to alleviate the hurt and sense of betrayal that people feel.
How sad that many people in the polarized diocese are looking to the Apostolic Nuncio or Pope Benedict XVI for the "final" resolution.
by Paul Golias, retired managing editor.
Bishop Joseph Martino has painted himself into a corner. By repeatedly stating that his decision not to recognize a teachers' union as collective bargaining representative is "final, " he has closed the door to a graceful, peaceful, fair and honorable solution to the impasse over that decision. It may be final to the bishop, but his flock is in pain.
There is a way out of this mess.
This humble suggestion comes from one who served on or chaired grievance, arbitration and contract negotiation committees on both sides of the table. As a young journalist, I served those roles in the union to which I belonged, and later in my career I did the same as part of management teams. Hopefully, these bona fides give weight to this idea.
Experience tells us that "final" offers often are tweaked or even set aside in order to achieve an agreement. This takes some courage, but a successor to the apostles should be courageous.
In his arguments in the diocesan newspaper and in letters to parents of Catholic school children, the bishop cited the total number of teachers, more than 700, and the number he says were members of the teachers' union, 200 or so.
Let's have a vote, conducted by the National Labor Relations Board or some other independent non-involved agency. Let every teacher indicate whether or not he or she wishes to have the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers represent them in collective bargaining.
This is a fundamental right. It is or should be a more profound right in the church than in the secular world because popes, bishops' conferences and theologians have repeatedly spoken to that right.
If the teachers vote for a union, Bishop Martino should set aside his "final" decision. Negotiations should begin immediately. If Bishop Martino wants to bargain tough, he can bargain tough. But he should engage in good-faith bargaining that can only happen in a true labor-management context, not in a company union-management setup.
If the teachers vote "no union," this issue is resolved.
The Catholic Church has a hierarchical structure. The pope has the final say in the universal church; bishops are the final arbiters in dioceses, and priests run their parishes. But there are ongoing democratic actions withing the church too, and it is in these actions that Bishop Martino may find the strength to set aside his "final" decision.
Eligible cardinals go into conclave and vote to elect the next pope. Conferences of bishops vote on all kinds of reports and issues. Oriental Rites elect bishops and submit the names to the pope for approval. Religious orders elect superiors, abbots and other leaders. Lay organizations in parishes elect officers and vote on contributions to parishes, charities, special projects and the like. There is a collegiality in all of these decisions, and out of that bond of togetherness emerges a stronger church. Even those on the losing end of votes feel united in what they have been taught is the Truth of One Body.
Only Bishop Martino can open the door that will gather his flock, and the wider community, together again.
He must act quickly to alleviate the hurt and sense of betrayal that people feel.
How sad that many people in the polarized diocese are looking to the Apostolic Nuncio or Pope Benedict XVI for the "final" resolution.
posted by SDACT at
8:15 AM
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