Diocesan teachers gain support from King’s
The following article appeared in the Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice, July 26, 2008:
Diocesan teachers gain support from King’s
The Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers released a statement Friday announcing the support of more than 100 King’s College faculty and staff members.
The support from the Catholic college further validates the teachers union’s struggle to be recognized by the diocese, said SDACT President Michael Milz.
“It’s terrific,” he said. “Anytime we receive support for Catholic groups, we know we’re on the right track in what we’re trying to do. We’re reaffirmed and we think we’re right.”
The 100-plus King’s faculty and staff members signed an online petition started by The Rev. Patrick Sullivan of the school’s sociology department.
The petition said, “(Workers) have a right to assemble and to vote their desire to have a union represent their interests about wages, working conditions, health benefits, pensions, vacations, days-off, break-time and all the other items most workers desire and often enjoy. The members of the Scranton Diocese Catholic Teachers Association are steadfastly denied those rights by the Bishop of Scranton — contrary to Catholic social teaching and natural law.”
Sullivan declined to comment further on the petition or the process of acquiring signatures other than to say it was done online.
Milz said Sullivan has supported labor unions and has been a renowned expert on the Catholic church’s labor stance for more than 50 years. Support from someone with that experience is especially gratifying, he said.
“Anything Father Pat is behind is further reaffirmation that we’re right,” Milz said. “He’s an expert. He knows more than anyone else in the country.”
“The diocese respects the right of anyone to express their opinion on the matter,” said William Genello, Diocese of Scranton spokesman. “The diocese believes that it is in fact treating all of its employees fairly, and in the case of the Catholic school teachers, we have established an employee relations program that is enabling the teachers and all school employees to provide input into wages, benefits and working conditions and the grievance process.”
He declined to further comment on the petition.
Diocesan teachers gain support from King’s
The Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers released a statement Friday announcing the support of more than 100 King’s College faculty and staff members.
The support from the Catholic college further validates the teachers union’s struggle to be recognized by the diocese, said SDACT President Michael Milz.
“It’s terrific,” he said. “Anytime we receive support for Catholic groups, we know we’re on the right track in what we’re trying to do. We’re reaffirmed and we think we’re right.”
The 100-plus King’s faculty and staff members signed an online petition started by The Rev. Patrick Sullivan of the school’s sociology department.
The petition said, “(Workers) have a right to assemble and to vote their desire to have a union represent their interests about wages, working conditions, health benefits, pensions, vacations, days-off, break-time and all the other items most workers desire and often enjoy. The members of the Scranton Diocese Catholic Teachers Association are steadfastly denied those rights by the Bishop of Scranton — contrary to Catholic social teaching and natural law.”
Sullivan declined to comment further on the petition or the process of acquiring signatures other than to say it was done online.
Milz said Sullivan has supported labor unions and has been a renowned expert on the Catholic church’s labor stance for more than 50 years. Support from someone with that experience is especially gratifying, he said.
“Anything Father Pat is behind is further reaffirmation that we’re right,” Milz said. “He’s an expert. He knows more than anyone else in the country.”
“The diocese respects the right of anyone to express their opinion on the matter,” said William Genello, Diocese of Scranton spokesman. “The diocese believes that it is in fact treating all of its employees fairly, and in the case of the Catholic school teachers, we have established an employee relations program that is enabling the teachers and all school employees to provide input into wages, benefits and working conditions and the grievance process.”
He declined to further comment on the petition.
posted by SDACT at
9:11 AM
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