Diocesan teachers' leader selected CV's Person of the Year
The following article appeared in the Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice, December 28, 2008:
Diocesan teachers' leader selected CV's Person of the Year
Watch companion video
Michael Milz's new office at the McEntee-Keller Labor Center in Dunmore resembles any other office, except the picture hanging above Milz's desk.
In the black-and-white photo, hundreds of mine workers stare out at viewers, challenging them, asking to be recognized for their service. The picture depicts the United Mine Workers meeting in 1906, held in Indianapolis. Milz's great-grandfather stands among the men, and so does his wife's great-grandfather.
Milz — who Citizens' Voice readers chose as Person of the Year for 2008 — is well aware of the historical significance of the picture and its relation to the Wyoming Valley.
Milz was a history teacher for 33 years, before he ended up in his new office, following his dismissal as a teacher at Holy Redeemer in June. Throughout this year, he and his fellow teachers compared themselves to the mine workers in the photograph — caught up in a their own labor battle and fighting for recognition.
In January 2008, the Scranton Diocese announced it would no longer recognize the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers (SDACT) as a collective bargaining unit. The teachers, headed by Milz, immediately expressed their discontent with the decision. They spoke to the media and picketed outside Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre and the diocese's offices in Scranton. A teacher many former students say was the "best of the best," Milz led the fight as the president of the union, and he says he lost his job because of it.
Milz's plight struck a nerve with Citizens' Voice readers, and they voted him as Person of the Year for 2008. Milz, however, says that winning Person of the Year was not about him as an individual, but rather because he is the figurehead for the Catholic school teachers.
"I don't think a single person voted for Michael Milz in this case," said Milz, 58, of Wilkes-Barre."I think they were validating our stance this year."
In the classroom
Milz's first job wasn't teaching, and he did some soul-searching before he ever set foot in front of a classroom. After graduating from King's College in 1972, Milz worked for a family business, L&C Sportswear, a garment company in Wilkes-Barre. He went to work each day, but didn't feel fulfilled.
He always had a nagging feeling he should be doing something else.
"How do you explain at the end what you do with your talents?" Milz said. "I decided to walk away from that job and get my teaching certificate."
In 1975, he was hired to teach history and science courses at Bishop Hoban and took a significant pay cut to follow his dream. Looking back, he never regretted his decision and loved being in the classroom. Milz found all the cliches about teaching to be true; he touched people's lives and formed friendships with students he can never forget.
"It was fun. It was interesting. It was very fulfilling, and I want to do it again," Milz said.
Many of Milz's former students say he was a teacher who had a positive influence on their lives. He hosted study sessions at his home and earned a reputation as a teacher who cared deeply about his students' success, even prompting some students to make T-shirts that said "Milz for President."
"He was highly respected by a lot of people," said Christina Drogalis, 22, a graduate of Bishop Hoban who is now a philosophy graduate student at Loyola University in Chicago. "He went far beyond what his job description was, and that was really apparent to us."
Bridget Keating, 22, an employee of PricewaterhouseCoopers, had Milz as a teacher for AP history. A 2004 graduate of Bishop Hoban, she said Milz is a phenomenal choice for "Person of the Year" and has been well-deserving of accolades long before the current events with the diocese."
The fact that Mr. Milz is not in a classroom right now is a tragedy not only for our Catholic schools, but for all schools," Keating said.
Labor movement
As a young teacher, Milz saw some of his colleagues reprimanded for their actions, but didn't think much of the incidences at first. He never spoke up until he was called to an administrator's office and was accused of saying things in class he didn't say. He realized without a union, he had no recourse and neither did the other teachers.
"I had three kids. I needed more security," Milz said. "I couldn't just allow one person to take this career away from me."
With his leadership, he and fellow teachers formed the Bishop Hoban Education Association in 1978. Soon other area Catholic schools followed suit, and all the unions in the Diocese of Scranton came together under the SDACT in 1981.
Milz learned his position on unions from his time at a Catholic college, where he was told the Catholic church supported people's attempts to gain social justice through collective action. Why the church has changed its position today confuses Milz, and he believes it is the sole position of the Diocese of Scranton and Bishop Joseph Martino.
"What's helped a lot have been the calls from priests who support us," Milz said.
Repeatedly, the Diocese of Scranton has released statements saying that the teachers do not need a union because the school has its own Employee Relations Program and "the decision regarding recognition of SDACT is final and will not be revoked."
Following his dismissal from Holy Redeemer, Milz took the teachers' fight in another direction, after speaking with state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre. In September, Pashinski introduced House Bill 2626, legislation that could give Catholic school teachers the right to choose whether or not to organize into a union. HB 2626 never came to a final vote because the session ran out.
Pashinski, a former school teacher, intends to propose similar legislation in January. A Catholic himself, Pashinski views the situation as a secular matter about work conditions and the employees' right to choose to form a union.
"It is unfortunate we have to take this avenue to bring forth some fairness here," Pashinski said.
The church has stated that the proposed legislation, if passed, will have a detrimental effect on Catholic education. The Diocese of Scranton opposed HB 2626 "not because the Church opposes unions, but because the government has no place in interposing itself as arbiter within religious ministries," according to a diocesan statement.
Milz believes the proposed legislation is the only way to bring fairness and justice for the Catholic school teachers. He and Pashinski have already judged how the new General Assembly may stand on the legislation and have been approached by some lawmakers who support the bill.
"I think it's going to pass and be signed by the governor and become law. If anything, the last election cycle made that more of a possibility," Milz said. "I think you are going to see a very pro-labor atmosphere in the country."
What the future holds
The Diocese of Scranton's position on the union has not affected Milz's faith. He still attends St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Wilkes-Barre. For now, Milz is a field representative with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. He has been visiting labor groups and speaking about the situation between the teachers and the Diocese of Scranton.
Milz says he will continue to fight on behalf of the teachers in 2009. A rally is planned for Jan. 24 to mark one year since Martino said he would not recognize the SDACT.
Milz couldn't believe it when he learned he was named The Citizens' Voice Person of the Year for 2008. He said he is honored and humbled to be chosen from among other well-deserving nominees. He immediately told his wife, Patricia, and his three children, Andrew, 31, Martin, 29, and Christian, 27.
Milz said the best thing he did this year was speak up for Catholic school teachers, a group of people who have done many remarkable things in the community.
A history teacher, Milz often reflects on his own conflict and its relation to the area's labor-rich past. But Milz hopes the conflict ends as it began — with SDACT representing the teachers and with Milz back in the classroom speaking about American history.
"There are lessons to learn about people's behavior that defy time. People basically don't change," Milz said. "If you see how people overcame problems in the past, you can avoid these problems in the future."
Diocesan teachers' leader selected CV's Person of the Year
Watch companion video
Michael Milz's new office at the McEntee-Keller Labor Center in Dunmore resembles any other office, except the picture hanging above Milz's desk.
In the black-and-white photo, hundreds of mine workers stare out at viewers, challenging them, asking to be recognized for their service. The picture depicts the United Mine Workers meeting in 1906, held in Indianapolis. Milz's great-grandfather stands among the men, and so does his wife's great-grandfather.
Milz — who Citizens' Voice readers chose as Person of the Year for 2008 — is well aware of the historical significance of the picture and its relation to the Wyoming Valley.
Milz was a history teacher for 33 years, before he ended up in his new office, following his dismissal as a teacher at Holy Redeemer in June. Throughout this year, he and his fellow teachers compared themselves to the mine workers in the photograph — caught up in a their own labor battle and fighting for recognition.
In January 2008, the Scranton Diocese announced it would no longer recognize the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers (SDACT) as a collective bargaining unit. The teachers, headed by Milz, immediately expressed their discontent with the decision. They spoke to the media and picketed outside Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre and the diocese's offices in Scranton. A teacher many former students say was the "best of the best," Milz led the fight as the president of the union, and he says he lost his job because of it.
Milz's plight struck a nerve with Citizens' Voice readers, and they voted him as Person of the Year for 2008. Milz, however, says that winning Person of the Year was not about him as an individual, but rather because he is the figurehead for the Catholic school teachers.
"I don't think a single person voted for Michael Milz in this case," said Milz, 58, of Wilkes-Barre."I think they were validating our stance this year."
In the classroom
Milz's first job wasn't teaching, and he did some soul-searching before he ever set foot in front of a classroom. After graduating from King's College in 1972, Milz worked for a family business, L&C Sportswear, a garment company in Wilkes-Barre. He went to work each day, but didn't feel fulfilled.
He always had a nagging feeling he should be doing something else.
"How do you explain at the end what you do with your talents?" Milz said. "I decided to walk away from that job and get my teaching certificate."
In 1975, he was hired to teach history and science courses at Bishop Hoban and took a significant pay cut to follow his dream. Looking back, he never regretted his decision and loved being in the classroom. Milz found all the cliches about teaching to be true; he touched people's lives and formed friendships with students he can never forget.
"It was fun. It was interesting. It was very fulfilling, and I want to do it again," Milz said.
Many of Milz's former students say he was a teacher who had a positive influence on their lives. He hosted study sessions at his home and earned a reputation as a teacher who cared deeply about his students' success, even prompting some students to make T-shirts that said "Milz for President."
"He was highly respected by a lot of people," said Christina Drogalis, 22, a graduate of Bishop Hoban who is now a philosophy graduate student at Loyola University in Chicago. "He went far beyond what his job description was, and that was really apparent to us."
Bridget Keating, 22, an employee of PricewaterhouseCoopers, had Milz as a teacher for AP history. A 2004 graduate of Bishop Hoban, she said Milz is a phenomenal choice for "Person of the Year" and has been well-deserving of accolades long before the current events with the diocese."
The fact that Mr. Milz is not in a classroom right now is a tragedy not only for our Catholic schools, but for all schools," Keating said.
Labor movement
As a young teacher, Milz saw some of his colleagues reprimanded for their actions, but didn't think much of the incidences at first. He never spoke up until he was called to an administrator's office and was accused of saying things in class he didn't say. He realized without a union, he had no recourse and neither did the other teachers.
"I had three kids. I needed more security," Milz said. "I couldn't just allow one person to take this career away from me."
With his leadership, he and fellow teachers formed the Bishop Hoban Education Association in 1978. Soon other area Catholic schools followed suit, and all the unions in the Diocese of Scranton came together under the SDACT in 1981.
Milz learned his position on unions from his time at a Catholic college, where he was told the Catholic church supported people's attempts to gain social justice through collective action. Why the church has changed its position today confuses Milz, and he believes it is the sole position of the Diocese of Scranton and Bishop Joseph Martino.
"What's helped a lot have been the calls from priests who support us," Milz said.
Repeatedly, the Diocese of Scranton has released statements saying that the teachers do not need a union because the school has its own Employee Relations Program and "the decision regarding recognition of SDACT is final and will not be revoked."
Following his dismissal from Holy Redeemer, Milz took the teachers' fight in another direction, after speaking with state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre. In September, Pashinski introduced House Bill 2626, legislation that could give Catholic school teachers the right to choose whether or not to organize into a union. HB 2626 never came to a final vote because the session ran out.
Pashinski, a former school teacher, intends to propose similar legislation in January. A Catholic himself, Pashinski views the situation as a secular matter about work conditions and the employees' right to choose to form a union.
"It is unfortunate we have to take this avenue to bring forth some fairness here," Pashinski said.
The church has stated that the proposed legislation, if passed, will have a detrimental effect on Catholic education. The Diocese of Scranton opposed HB 2626 "not because the Church opposes unions, but because the government has no place in interposing itself as arbiter within religious ministries," according to a diocesan statement.
Milz believes the proposed legislation is the only way to bring fairness and justice for the Catholic school teachers. He and Pashinski have already judged how the new General Assembly may stand on the legislation and have been approached by some lawmakers who support the bill.
"I think it's going to pass and be signed by the governor and become law. If anything, the last election cycle made that more of a possibility," Milz said. "I think you are going to see a very pro-labor atmosphere in the country."
What the future holds
The Diocese of Scranton's position on the union has not affected Milz's faith. He still attends St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Wilkes-Barre. For now, Milz is a field representative with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. He has been visiting labor groups and speaking about the situation between the teachers and the Diocese of Scranton.
Milz says he will continue to fight on behalf of the teachers in 2009. A rally is planned for Jan. 24 to mark one year since Martino said he would not recognize the SDACT.
Milz couldn't believe it when he learned he was named The Citizens' Voice Person of the Year for 2008. He said he is honored and humbled to be chosen from among other well-deserving nominees. He immediately told his wife, Patricia, and his three children, Andrew, 31, Martin, 29, and Christian, 27.
Milz said the best thing he did this year was speak up for Catholic school teachers, a group of people who have done many remarkable things in the community.
A history teacher, Milz often reflects on his own conflict and its relation to the area's labor-rich past. But Milz hopes the conflict ends as it began — with SDACT representing the teachers and with Milz back in the classroom speaking about American history.
"There are lessons to learn about people's behavior that defy time. People basically don't change," Milz said. "If you see how people overcame problems in the past, you can avoid these problems in the future."
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