Scranton Diocese rejects request for vote

The following story appeared in the Scranton Times Tribune, June 20, 2008:

Scranton Diocese rejects request for vote

The dispute between the Diocese of Scranton and the teachers union it refuses to recognize is a growing concern among state lawmakers.

Legislators met with officials from the diocese for the first time Thursday. In a three-hour meeting at the Chancery, lawmakers learned more about the dispute — and to see whether it could be resolved.

With a bill in the state Legislature that would give Catholic teachers the right to unionize, lawmakers are feeling pressure from state labor unions to pass it and are concerned with rights of teachers in the diocese.

“We’re uncomfortable being involved in a church issue, but at the same time, this has risen to a new level,” said meeting attendee state Rep. Frank Andrews Shimkus, D-Throop. “We don’t want to cross that line between church and state, but there are workers’ rights here.”

Labor unions from across the state are pushing for the passage of the bill that would amend the Pennsylvania Labor Act and for months have supported the teachers’ rights to unionize.

In January, the diocese announced it would not recognize the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers as a collective bargaining unit and instead has implemented an employee relations program.

At Thursday’s meeting, legislators asked officials if the issue could be resolved by having the teachers vote on whether they wanted a union. The diocese has stated that a majority of teachers do not want a union; union officials claim the opposite.

The diocese objected to the vote.

“We explained to them it’s the bishop’s responsibility to make decisions based on ... the overall good of the diocese,” said diocesan spokesman William Genello. “He has made this particular decision with that in mind.”

Bishop Joseph F. Martino was not present at the meeting. Representing the diocese were Joseph Casciano, superintendent of schools; James Burke, human resources director; Mary Tigue, assistant superintendent of schools; and Mr. Genello.

“We were happy to have the opportunity to talk with them and answer their questions,” Mr. Genello said.

Legislators requested the meeting through the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference. The diocese had previously rejected requests to meet with union officials.

Along with Mr. Shimkus, state reps. Mike Carroll, D-Avoca; Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre; Ken Smith, D-Dunmore; Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake and state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, attended the meeting.

The bill, introduced by Mr. Pashinski, would amend the Pennsylvania Labor Act to specifically include lay teachers and employees working in religious schools. When the state labor law was written in 1937, Catholic schools were not included because they had few lay people working for them.

House Bill 2626 is now in the Labor Relations Committee in the House of Representatives and will soon be scheduled for hearings across the state.

Lawmakers said they found the meeting informative, as they learned the reasoning behind not recognizing the union, as well as information about enrollment and staffing.

“I don’t know what will happen next,” Mr. Shimkus said. “We at least opened the door of communication.

”After the meeting, Mr. Smith said he was in favor of the teachers to have “the right to have representation and a voice.”

“I hope they can come to a solution before this thing really blows up,” Mr. Smith said. “I don’t want the institution to be hurt.”