SDACT CHEERED ON BY CROWD AT ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE

FROM THE WILKES-BARRE CITIZENS' VOICE, MARCH 17, 2008

Members of newly formed Parents Supporting SDACT march in parade

BY ELIZABETH SKRAPITS
STAFF WRITER
03/17/2008

WILKES-BARRE — They didn’t have balloons or a fancy float, but supporters of the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers attracted a lot of attention at Wilkes-Barre’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday.


They ranged in age from retired seniors to 5-year-old Luke Sullivan, who snuggled beneath red blankets in a wagon pulled by his father, Bob Sullivan of Wilkes-Barre.

The wagon sported a sign stating, “I love my Catholic school teacher.” Luke, a kindergartner at St. Nicholas School, really feels that way — and so do his parents, Bob Sullivan said.

“The teachers deserve what they can get as far as working conditions go,” he said.

The Sullivans were among more than 150 Catholic school alumni, parents, teachers and students who braved the chilly weather to march.

“We’re hoping to be the biggest contingent in the parade,” SDACT president Michael Milz said as participants gathered in the former Eckerd drugstore parking lot at South Main and Ross streets at 1:30 p.m. to prepare. Several people carried posters; all wore “I Support SDACT” buttons.

The marchers, some of whom represented schools in Scranton and Honesdale, generally got a highly positive response from the spectators lining South Main Street and Public Square in Wilkes-Barre.

Teachers appreciate the community response, Milz said, calling it “humbling.”

“I can assure you, none of us have been coerced by the union to be here,” said parent Sharon Hourigan, one of the organizers.

Frustration at the diocese’s refusal to recognize the teachers union led parents to see what they could do to help. They turned out by the hundreds at a meeting on March 8, after which “Parents Supporting the SDACT” was formed.

“People have been asking what they can do, how they can show their support, and we thought this was a good venue,” Hourigan said of the parade. “We’re hoping people see the large amount of support we have, and it will give them the courage to stand up.

”The Diocese of Scranton announced in January it would not recognize the union, instead implementing an employee relations program.

The diocese issued a statement Thursday, in response to Holy Cross High School teachers’ sick-out planned for the next day. It said, in part: “The tactics of SDACT’s leaders will not benefit anyone, and they will not succeed. SDACT will not be recognized, and this decision is final. A majority of the schools were represented at Thursday’s meeting of the Employee Relations Program, and the implementation of this program will continue.

”Milz said SDACT is still hoping Bishop Joseph Martino will see the community’s reaction and realize how strongly it disagrees with his decision.

“These people aren’t here because they’re big union backers. They’re believers in Catholic education and the role we play in it,” Milz said.Independently, Hourigan confirmed Milz’ words.

“It should be clear this is not about money,” she said.

eskrapits@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2072
©The Citizens Voice 2008