Teachers again walk line
From the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, March 29, 2008.
Members and supporters of the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers (SDACT) have staged pickets, prayer vigils and sickouts in an effort to get Bishop Joseph Martino to reverse a January decision rejecting teacher unionization.
Martino has said the decision is final and irrevocable, but he did decide to aid the union in one small way. A posting on the diocesan Web site announced that the St. Peter’s Cathedral Prayer Garden in Scranton will remain open for a prayer vigil being staged by union supporters from 4 p.m. Saturday to noon Sunday.
Saying that Martino has stressed prayer since arriving in 2003, the notice said he “has directed that those who participate in this prayer vigil are to be accommodated to the fullest extent.” The garden will remain open all night, the chapel at Holy Cross High School across the street can be used in bad weather, school restrooms will be available, and security provided “to ensure the safety of all.”
Union President Michael Milz said Friday, “We appreciate this very nice gesture,” but that was as far as the common ground went. The diocesan statement said the vigil “is far superior” to union sickouts that have closed schools but “will not change the fact that SDACT will not be recognized as the bargaining agent for teachers.”
The diocese has launched an alternative “Employee Relations Program,” and the statement repeated the contention that the program “will ensure the dignity and justice for teachers.” The statement accused Milz of urging teachers “to discourage their peers” from attending an Employee Relations Program meeting March 13, and insisted that representatives from “most of the schools” attended anyway.
Milz repeated his contention that the majority of the community supports the right of workers to unionize, and cited a closed-door meeting Thursday hosted by Pat McCormick of the Peace Center to discuss concerns regarding the diocese.
Milz said he had attended the meeting of 50 people and that it was “a good cross section of people with the same problem we have: lack of communication with the bishop.”
“One woman said ‘The bishop is supposed to be a good shepherd, but he seems to be a shepherd who is allergic to wool.’
Members and supporters of the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers (SDACT) have staged pickets, prayer vigils and sickouts in an effort to get Bishop Joseph Martino to reverse a January decision rejecting teacher unionization.
Martino has said the decision is final and irrevocable, but he did decide to aid the union in one small way. A posting on the diocesan Web site announced that the St. Peter’s Cathedral Prayer Garden in Scranton will remain open for a prayer vigil being staged by union supporters from 4 p.m. Saturday to noon Sunday.
Saying that Martino has stressed prayer since arriving in 2003, the notice said he “has directed that those who participate in this prayer vigil are to be accommodated to the fullest extent.” The garden will remain open all night, the chapel at Holy Cross High School across the street can be used in bad weather, school restrooms will be available, and security provided “to ensure the safety of all.”
Union President Michael Milz said Friday, “We appreciate this very nice gesture,” but that was as far as the common ground went. The diocesan statement said the vigil “is far superior” to union sickouts that have closed schools but “will not change the fact that SDACT will not be recognized as the bargaining agent for teachers.”
The diocese has launched an alternative “Employee Relations Program,” and the statement repeated the contention that the program “will ensure the dignity and justice for teachers.” The statement accused Milz of urging teachers “to discourage their peers” from attending an Employee Relations Program meeting March 13, and insisted that representatives from “most of the schools” attended anyway.
Milz repeated his contention that the majority of the community supports the right of workers to unionize, and cited a closed-door meeting Thursday hosted by Pat McCormick of the Peace Center to discuss concerns regarding the diocese.
Milz said he had attended the meeting of 50 people and that it was “a good cross section of people with the same problem we have: lack of communication with the bishop.”
“One woman said ‘The bishop is supposed to be a good shepherd, but he seems to be a shepherd who is allergic to wool.’
posted by SDACT at
12:28 AM
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