Bill unveiled at rally for Catholic teachers union
The following article appeared in the Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice, June 15, 2008:
See VIDEO of rally from WBRE TV News
Bill unveiled at rally for Catholic teachers union
Despite a live band, funnel cakes, pizza, face painting and balloons, there was no mistaking Saturday’s “Rally for Rights” for a festival once the speakers began talking about union rights
“The word union in many circles is considered an un-American thing,” state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, said. “The word union in some circles is considered to be too costly. I want everyone to think where you’d be without unions.”
The rally, organized by the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers, brought together between 300 and 500 union members and supporters from all over the county and state.
The SDACT is fighting for recognition from the Diocese of Scranton, which has repeatedly refused to recognize the union. Pashinski officially unveiled House Bill 2626 at the rally, which would amend the Pennsylvania Labor Act to specifically include lay teachers and employees working in religious schools.
In Pennsylvania, six of the eight dioceses have unions, Pashinski said.
When the act was written, almost no lay teachers worked in religious schools and it was not a issue. The bill has 56 co-sponsor signatures, including State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Avoca; John Yudichak, D-Nanticoke; Frank Andrews Shimkus, D-Throop; Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston; and Todd Eachus, D-Butler Township.
“To the church, it’s not about justice, it’s not about integrity,” said Rita Schwartz, president of the National Associate of Catholic School Teachers. “It’s about power.”
The Diocese of Scranton issued a statement Friday against the bill and urged other Catholic dioceses to take similar stances.
Schwartz and Pashinski were only two of more than 10 speakers at the rally, including Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton and U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke. The crowd loudly cheered when SDACT President Mike Milz stood to speak. Milz learned this week that he was losing his job with the diocese after more than 30 years of service, and many in the crowd were upset. After the rally, former students, co-workers, friends and supporters crowded him for handshakes and hugs.
Milz said it was exciting how many places and unions the crowd represented. More than three dozen unions were recognized for coming. He feels there is the support from the community to get HB 2626 passed.
“I think it’s fair to say we’ve convinced everyone, except for one, of the righteousness of our cause,” Milz said.
David McQuiston, an area vice president for the Philadelphia Association for Catholic Teachers, drove up to Wilkes-Barre to support the cause.
“What is going on here has to be stopped here,” McQuiston said. “If it could happen here, it can happen anywhere.”
Bill George, the president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, capped off the speeches with a call to action and told the crowd that this fight is about more than recognizing the Catholic teachers in this area, but for recognizing the rights of all people.
“Most of all it’s about standing up for what belongs to us,” George said. “That flag up there belongs to all of us.”
Eileen Kempinski plans to follow that directive and said she plans to do everything possible to get the bill passed. She is a teacher at St. Jude’s School in Mountain Top, and has worked for the diocese for 33 years.
“It’s a great idea,” Kempinski said. “I hope everyone will call their congressmen, their representatives, and tell them to support the House Bill 2626 because it’s a justice issue, so Catholic school teachers will have the same rights as every other American citizen.”
The bill is currently with the state Labor Committee, and Pashinski said he is hopeful it could be up for vote in September.
See VIDEO of rally from WBRE TV News
Bill unveiled at rally for Catholic teachers union
Despite a live band, funnel cakes, pizza, face painting and balloons, there was no mistaking Saturday’s “Rally for Rights” for a festival once the speakers began talking about union rights
“The word union in many circles is considered an un-American thing,” state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, said. “The word union in some circles is considered to be too costly. I want everyone to think where you’d be without unions.”
The rally, organized by the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers, brought together between 300 and 500 union members and supporters from all over the county and state.
The SDACT is fighting for recognition from the Diocese of Scranton, which has repeatedly refused to recognize the union. Pashinski officially unveiled House Bill 2626 at the rally, which would amend the Pennsylvania Labor Act to specifically include lay teachers and employees working in religious schools.
In Pennsylvania, six of the eight dioceses have unions, Pashinski said.
When the act was written, almost no lay teachers worked in religious schools and it was not a issue. The bill has 56 co-sponsor signatures, including State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Avoca; John Yudichak, D-Nanticoke; Frank Andrews Shimkus, D-Throop; Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston; and Todd Eachus, D-Butler Township.
“To the church, it’s not about justice, it’s not about integrity,” said Rita Schwartz, president of the National Associate of Catholic School Teachers. “It’s about power.”
The Diocese of Scranton issued a statement Friday against the bill and urged other Catholic dioceses to take similar stances.
Schwartz and Pashinski were only two of more than 10 speakers at the rally, including Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton and U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke. The crowd loudly cheered when SDACT President Mike Milz stood to speak. Milz learned this week that he was losing his job with the diocese after more than 30 years of service, and many in the crowd were upset. After the rally, former students, co-workers, friends and supporters crowded him for handshakes and hugs.
Milz said it was exciting how many places and unions the crowd represented. More than three dozen unions were recognized for coming. He feels there is the support from the community to get HB 2626 passed.
“I think it’s fair to say we’ve convinced everyone, except for one, of the righteousness of our cause,” Milz said.
David McQuiston, an area vice president for the Philadelphia Association for Catholic Teachers, drove up to Wilkes-Barre to support the cause.
“What is going on here has to be stopped here,” McQuiston said. “If it could happen here, it can happen anywhere.”
Bill George, the president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, capped off the speeches with a call to action and told the crowd that this fight is about more than recognizing the Catholic teachers in this area, but for recognizing the rights of all people.
“Most of all it’s about standing up for what belongs to us,” George said. “That flag up there belongs to all of us.”
Eileen Kempinski plans to follow that directive and said she plans to do everything possible to get the bill passed. She is a teacher at St. Jude’s School in Mountain Top, and has worked for the diocese for 33 years.
“It’s a great idea,” Kempinski said. “I hope everyone will call their congressmen, their representatives, and tell them to support the House Bill 2626 because it’s a justice issue, so Catholic school teachers will have the same rights as every other American citizen.”
The bill is currently with the state Labor Committee, and Pashinski said he is hopeful it could be up for vote in September.
posted by SDACT at
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