Catholic school teachers, parents picket in 3 towns
The following is from the Scranton Times-Tribune, March 29, 2008.
To view similar stories, follow the links below:
Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice, March 29, 2008: Diocesan teachers hold rally for union recognition
Towanda Daily and Sunday Review, March 29, 2008: Teachers continue protests against Scranton Diocese
Teachers, parents and supporters gathered in the gray and damp of the early morning to picket in front of Holy Cross High School on Friday.
“We’re trying to get attention for our cause,” said Jerry Skwish, a math teacher at the high school.
Their protest — and similar demonstrations in Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport — are the latest in a series of events, including sickouts, designed to raise awareness of teachers’ efforts to get Bishop Joseph Martino to reverse a January decision in which the Diocese of Scranton would not recognize the teachers union.
About 40 people turned out to orderly and quietly pace along the sidewalk in front of Holy Cross for a half-hour, beginning at 7 a.m.
In Wilkes-Barre, about 100 teachers, parents and supporters participated in a 30-minute rally that began at 6:45 a.m. outside Holy Redeemer High School. Teachers there held signs reading, “100 years of Catholic social teaching can’t be wrong,” “Practice what you preach or we won’t teach” and “SDACT: the only true voice of lay teachers.”
“It went well. We had a nice turnout,” union President Michael Milz said.
Efforts to reach diocesan officials were unsuccessful Friday.
“There has been no dialogue,” Mr. Milz said. “The only response, if there is any response at all, comes from a press release which they post to the Web site.”
The teachers have sought aid from a higher authority, announcing this week that they will appeal the bishop’s decision to a Vatican panel. And today, a 20-hour prayer vigil will begin at St. Peter’s Cathedral at 4 p.m.
One reason the teachers want a union is to improve their contracts, said Kaitlyn Hapeman, a music teacher. Due to a glitch in scheduling, she has only the three-minute break between classes to make the 15-minute drive from the Dunmore campus of Holy Cross to her afternoon class at the Scranton campus. She is constantly cutting one class or the other short, and was surprised that school officials didn’t fix the conflict after they found out.
“If we had a contract, we could have language in there regulating that,” she said.
Matthew Sciabacucchi, a financial planner from Pittston, showed up in Scranton to picket in support of his mother, who is a teacher. Among his concerns is the teachers’ retirement plans. Mr. Sciabacucchi became familiar with the plans after helping his former fifth-grade teacher when she wanted to roll over her retirement funds.
“They gave us such a hard time,” he said. “They gave excuse after excuse to delay the process.” In a private company, those delays would merit fines, he said.
To view similar stories, follow the links below:
Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice, March 29, 2008: Diocesan teachers hold rally for union recognition
Towanda Daily and Sunday Review, March 29, 2008: Teachers continue protests against Scranton Diocese
Teachers, parents and supporters gathered in the gray and damp of the early morning to picket in front of Holy Cross High School on Friday.
“We’re trying to get attention for our cause,” said Jerry Skwish, a math teacher at the high school.
Their protest — and similar demonstrations in Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport — are the latest in a series of events, including sickouts, designed to raise awareness of teachers’ efforts to get Bishop Joseph Martino to reverse a January decision in which the Diocese of Scranton would not recognize the teachers union.
About 40 people turned out to orderly and quietly pace along the sidewalk in front of Holy Cross for a half-hour, beginning at 7 a.m.
In Wilkes-Barre, about 100 teachers, parents and supporters participated in a 30-minute rally that began at 6:45 a.m. outside Holy Redeemer High School. Teachers there held signs reading, “100 years of Catholic social teaching can’t be wrong,” “Practice what you preach or we won’t teach” and “SDACT: the only true voice of lay teachers.”
“It went well. We had a nice turnout,” union President Michael Milz said.
Efforts to reach diocesan officials were unsuccessful Friday.
“There has been no dialogue,” Mr. Milz said. “The only response, if there is any response at all, comes from a press release which they post to the Web site.”
The teachers have sought aid from a higher authority, announcing this week that they will appeal the bishop’s decision to a Vatican panel. And today, a 20-hour prayer vigil will begin at St. Peter’s Cathedral at 4 p.m.
One reason the teachers want a union is to improve their contracts, said Kaitlyn Hapeman, a music teacher. Due to a glitch in scheduling, she has only the three-minute break between classes to make the 15-minute drive from the Dunmore campus of Holy Cross to her afternoon class at the Scranton campus. She is constantly cutting one class or the other short, and was surprised that school officials didn’t fix the conflict after they found out.
“If we had a contract, we could have language in there regulating that,” she said.
Matthew Sciabacucchi, a financial planner from Pittston, showed up in Scranton to picket in support of his mother, who is a teacher. Among his concerns is the teachers’ retirement plans. Mr. Sciabacucchi became familiar with the plans after helping his former fifth-grade teacher when she wanted to roll over her retirement funds.
“They gave us such a hard time,” he said. “They gave excuse after excuse to delay the process.” In a private company, those delays would merit fines, he said.
posted by SDACT at
12:02 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home