Worthy Fight
The following letter to the editor appeared in the Scranton Times Tribune, May 1, 2008:
Worthy Fight
Editor:
The teachers of the Diocese of Scranton refuse to give up their fight for a union for good reason. I’m relatively new to teaching, and I’m also new to being in a union. But my limited experience teaching in the diocese has shown me why a union is critical.
On a personal note, every day I teach five class periods in a row. Under last year’s contract, this would have been illegal. Although the classrooms are not coal mines, teaching can be an uncomfortable profession when you don’t have time to use the restroom.
On a broader level, about eight teachers at Holy Cross High School, including me, were paid the wrong salary until a week before Christmas. We reported the errors as instructed. During a meeting with our system director, who is supposed to act as our liaison with the diocese, we were told that the diocese had made a mistake and the amount we had received was correct, even though we had signed a document agreeing to a higher salary. We pursued the matter, but it wasn’t until our seventh paycheck that the error was corrected.
Additionally, the teachers at Holy Cross High School have not been assured of a position for the next academic year. We have not been told whether the student body will be housed in one building or two for the 2008-2009 school year. If all students are taught in one building, the school will not need as many teachers as there are now. However, those same teachers whose positions are not secure have been asked for their expertise in making decisions about next year’s curriculum. They have been asked to teach new electives and to take on student observers from local universities, all without knowing the status of their future employment.
These issues are justice issues — issues that unions are meant to resolve. And because of these issues and others like them, the teachers of the Diocese of Scranton continue to fight.
JAIME MOSHER
OLYPHANT
Worthy Fight
Editor:
The teachers of the Diocese of Scranton refuse to give up their fight for a union for good reason. I’m relatively new to teaching, and I’m also new to being in a union. But my limited experience teaching in the diocese has shown me why a union is critical.
On a personal note, every day I teach five class periods in a row. Under last year’s contract, this would have been illegal. Although the classrooms are not coal mines, teaching can be an uncomfortable profession when you don’t have time to use the restroom.
On a broader level, about eight teachers at Holy Cross High School, including me, were paid the wrong salary until a week before Christmas. We reported the errors as instructed. During a meeting with our system director, who is supposed to act as our liaison with the diocese, we were told that the diocese had made a mistake and the amount we had received was correct, even though we had signed a document agreeing to a higher salary. We pursued the matter, but it wasn’t until our seventh paycheck that the error was corrected.
Additionally, the teachers at Holy Cross High School have not been assured of a position for the next academic year. We have not been told whether the student body will be housed in one building or two for the 2008-2009 school year. If all students are taught in one building, the school will not need as many teachers as there are now. However, those same teachers whose positions are not secure have been asked for their expertise in making decisions about next year’s curriculum. They have been asked to teach new electives and to take on student observers from local universities, all without knowing the status of their future employment.
These issues are justice issues — issues that unions are meant to resolve. And because of these issues and others like them, the teachers of the Diocese of Scranton continue to fight.
JAIME MOSHER
OLYPHANT
posted by SDACT at
5:20 AM
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