Schools

Stalled Contract Negotiations Sent Parochial Teachers to the Streets

Nearly 100 teachers rallied outside the Archdiocese's headquarters on 17th Street Tuesday.

Teachers in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia say contract negotiations aren't at an impasse because they are asking for more, they say they're just attempting to maintain what they already have. 

"They want to get rid of seniority, tenure, job security basically," Chuck Penepresso, a teacher at Archbishop Ryan and member of the negotiating team for the teachers said Tuesday at a rally outside the Archdioceses headquaters on 17th Street. "We're not even talking about medical and pay."

Teachers were also worried about losing their jobs if it is announced that more schools will be closing this year, increasing class sizes, the hiring of part-time teachers who will not work under contract and may take positions away as well as a lack of prep time. 

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The issue, Penepresso said, comes down to power. 

"They basically gutted our contract," he said. "They're antiunion, they want to make the decisions."

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The archdiocese, Penepresso said, is arguing that changes need to be made for it continue to be viable and competitive but a number of the changes, including increasing technology and teaching time, can be discussed outside of the contract. 

"They're trying to do too much," he said. "There are 300 proposals on the table."

Although no one from the Archdiocese spoke at the rally, its website states, that it is "committed to achieving a contract that is fair and equitable for our valued teachers. We seek a quality Catholic education infused with 21st century skills."

Despite the fact that the archdiocese is calling for change, Joe McFadden, a teacher at Archbishop Ryan said he's not so sure the system needs restructuring.  

"Last year was a record-breaking year," he said. "The senior class received more scholarship money than ever before."

About $270 million to be exact. 

"That's not viable," he asked. 

Although the Archdiocese is succeeding, the release stated that, "we must embrace a certain degree of change in order to achieve such goals. We must be proactive in the delivery of our educational services if we expect to remain viable and competitive. Included within the teacher contract must be the ability to continue to grow our excellent quality academic programs that will provide for the ever-changing needs of the 21st century learner."

During a quick break in negotiations, Rita Schwartz, president of the teacher's union addressed the crowd and said all the major items are still on the table. 

"We have reached a critical point," she said. "We have just asked to enter mediation to have this settled by the end of the week but as long as the contract is anti-union and anti-teacher our answer will still be no."

A contract ratification meeting, where the union will approve or reject a new contract, is scheduled for Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. If a contract is not approved the high school teachers can strike. 

"We're just asking for justice and dignity," Schwartz said. "You don't go into the Catholic schools for the money, if you did you'd need your head checked out."

While some teachers, who wished to remain nameless, were unsure whether an agreement could be reached by the next Tuesday, Penepresso said it could be done. 

"It's going to be a rough week," he said. "But we always seem to work something out."


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