Post on 27-Jul-2018
Volume XXXIX No. 3 April 2018
Catholic School Teachers and Staff: Why Unionize?
Keep good teachers and support staff in Catholic schools by:
• putting the Church’s labor teaching into practice
• having a voice in working conditions, salaries, and benefits
• fairly resolving legitimate disputes
• treating teachers and support staff with respect and professionalism
Catholic School Teachers and Staff: How To Unionize?
• by talking to your colleagues
• by becoming informed of locals in your area
• by contacting NACST:
Rita Schwartz, President NACST
Suite 903 1700 Sansom St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
email: nacst.nacst@verizon .net www.nacst.com
SPRING: A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY FOR THE NON-UNIONIZED
It has certainly taken Spring an inordinately long time to make its presence felt this year. Spring definitely means different things to unionized and non-unionized teachers. For unionized teachers in Catholic elementary and high schools, there could be a new contract being negotiated, one into which they have had input as to what they want as far as salary, benefits and working conditions are concerned. If there is a multi-year contract, life simply continues and raises and increased benefits have already been negotiated. For non-unionized teachers, or, as they are known, “employees at will,” the coming of spring often brings uncertainty. No matter how many years’ service these teachers have given to Catholic education, they anxiously wait to see if they will be “invited back.” If it is thumbs up, they can exhale. If it is thumbs down, they are out of a job and have no recourse. There is no way to challenge the termination. In fact, since the teachers only signed a one-year contract, they will be told that this is not a termination. A contract for next year is just not being offered. Lay teachers in Catholic schools throughout the United States comprise well over 97% of the total teaching force. Yet fewer than half of these teachers have any real say over their salaries, benefits or the conditions under which they work. They have no effective due process; they have no job security. These vital facets of a teacher’s work life are what a teachers’ union is all about. A Union is an organized voice, a recognized representative that sits as an equal partner at the bargaining table and speaks for teachers and their rights.
cont’d on p. 3
Newsworthy April 2018
National Executive CommitteePresident Rita C. Schwartz Suite 903 1700 Sansom St. Philadelphia, PA 19103 phone (215) 665-0993 (800) 99-NACST nacst.nacst@verizon.net
Executive Vice President Michael DeSantis 6733 Reynolds Rd. Mentor, OH 44060 phone (440) 223-0609 mikedesantis@yahoo.com
Secretary-Treasurer Paul Fitzpatrick 22 Main St., ext 1-6 Simsbury, CT 06081 phone (860) 604-9593
Vice Presidents at Large Brian Klisavage Foster Plaza Bldg #10, Room 120 680 Anderson Dr. Pittsburgh, PA phone (412) 921-6042Barbara McVicker 750 Wick Ave. Youngstown, OH 44505 phone (330) 758-5312
Chris Rusin 22 Carmelite Drive West Seneca, NY 14224 crusin62@yahoo.com
Patricia Spellman 1529Batters Box Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366 phone (636) 281-2016 pspstl@gmail.com
page 2 www.nacst.com
from the Bishops...Among the basic rights of the human person is to be numbered the right of
freely founding unions for working people.These should be able truly to represent them and to contribute to the
organizing of economic life in the right way.Included is the right of freely taking part in the activity of these unions
without risk of reprisal.Gaudium et Spes, #68
Why Unions?
People with the same concerns often get together to talk and look for answers.
That's exactly what a union is all about.American workers have been joining together in democratic unions since the
end of the 18th century.Collective bargaining remains a uniquely American success story.The way that unions address the most direct needs of their membership is
through labor-management negotiations, sitting at a bargaining table with the employer.
Contracts are bargained by democratically elected union representatives who come to the table as equals of their management counterparts.
Through the give and take of the bargaining process, they establish equitable wages, working conditions, job safety and job security, and a system for resolving disputes - a grievance procedure.
from AFL-CIO publications #164 & P-189-0892-350
The actual process of forming a teachers’ Union is not rocket science. However, the procedure of securing recognition and collective bargaining from one’s pastor, superintendent or bishop is, often, more complicated than it needs to be.For well over 100 years, the Catholic Church has championed the rights of workers, especially the right to unionize, to be treated fairly and to negotiate a just wage. The US Bishops have spoken specifically of these rights being there for their own employees. Unfortunately, actions often speak louder than words and the bishops silently add to their championing of these rights “but not in my backyard.” Thousands of unionized Catholic school teachers across the country are proof that Justice and Dignity for Catholic School Teachers are attainable and are in perfect harmony with the teachings of the Catholic Church. But Justice and Dignity are not just words. They must form the foundation of the Church’s labor relations policy just as they form the basis of the Church’s social teaching.The National Association of Catholic School Teachers was established in 1978 and, for 40 years, we have worked and fought for teachers so that they could achieve the rights long championed by our Church for all workers.Let the National Association of Catholic School Teachers know what we can do to help you.
page 3 www.nacst.com
Newsworthy April 2018
Catholic social teaching supports the right of workers to choose whether to organize, join a union, and bargain collectively, and to exercise these rights without reprisal... Workers, owners, employers, and unions should work together to create decent jobs, build a more just economy, and advance the common good. Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship , USCCB, 2007
Newsworthy April 2018
page 4 www.nacst.com
from the editor ...
Employees At WillIn legal terms an "employee at will" is any worker who is not part
of a working unit represented by a collective bargaining agent, i.e. a union.
For almost forty years, thousands of Catholic school teachers have been represented by unions they themselves have chosen.
Representation begins with the election of a bargaining agent independent of the employer Church.
The union then negotiates contracts with the diocesan and/or school administrations.
Teachers have sometimes found it necessary to take job actions to safeguard key provisions of the negotiated contracts.
The bargaining process puts the Church's social justice teaching into practice.
A cornerstone of the process is the personal satisfaction accompanying the accomplishment of our educational mission without a concomitant anxiety about our ability to continue the mission.
Teachers working under negotiated contracts have that essential aspect of working to fulfill our mission - job security.
Such is not the case with employees at will.Often enough, for employees at will, terminations have been based
on the changing whims and personal quirks of school administrators.While it would be nice to think that all members of the Church
follow the moral imperatives associated with the dignity of the worker, experience has shown that, even as the Church actively promotes the rights of workers, individual bishops, pastors, and principals act contrary to those same moral principles.
Without the protection of unions and negotiated contracts with job security, teachers remain merely employees at will.
At this time in the American Church, NACST urges all Catholic school teachers to put into practice the Church's social justice teaching.
To all employees at will in Catholic schools: use NACST to protect and promote your rights.
Contact NACST today.
Affiliated Locals
Altoona Johnstown Catholic School Teachers Association
(Diocese of Altoona Johnstown PA)
Karen BlaisdellAssociation of Catholic Teachers (Archdiocese of Philadelphia PA)
Rita SchwartzCatholic Teachers Union - NJ
(Diocese of Camden NJ) Mary Kay Rossi
Cleveland High School and Academy Lay
Teachers Association (Diocese of Cleveland OH)
Michael DeSantisDELTA
(Diocese of Worcester MA) Kate Harris
Diocesan Elementary Teachers Association
(Diocese of Buffalo NY) Joann Biggie
Federation of Pittsburgh Diocesan Teachers
(Diocese of Pittsburgh PA) Brian Klisavage
Greater Hartford Catholic Education Association
(Archdiocese of Hartford CT) Paul Fitzpatrick
Greensburg Diocesan Teachers Association
(Diocese of Greensburg PA) Will Merchant
NACST @ St. Joh Vianney (Diocese of Trenton NJ)
Lisa LennSt. Louis Archdiocesan Teachers Association
(Archdiocese of St. Louis MO) Patricia Spellman
St. Rose Teachers Association (Diocese of Trenton NJ)
Colleen Reilly Laura Urspruch
Secondary Lay Teachers Association
(Diocese of Buffalo NY) Chris Rusin
Union County Catholic Education Association
(Archdiocese of Newark NJ) Jaclyn Church
page 5 www.nacst.com
Newsworthy April 2018 20
17-2
018
Lay
Tea
cher
s' S
alar
ies
Nam
e of
Dio
cese
B
asic
Sca
le
with
BA
/BS
Scal
e W
ith
MA
/E
quiv
alen
t
Top
Sal
ary
Tui
tion
Cha
rged
Com
-m
ents
St
artin
g M
axim
um
# of
step
s to
reac
h m
axi-
mum
St
artin
g M
axim
um
Bey
ond
MA
# of
cre
dits
or
degr
ee to
rea
ch
# of
step
s to
reac
h to
p sa
lary
E
lem
enta
ry
Seco
ndar
y
DIO
CE
SE O
F PE
OR
IA, I
L
Paris
h El
emen
tary
and
Sec
onda
ry S
choo
ls
2652
0-31
375
3800
0-49
592
20-3
0 28
907-
3451
3 49
000-
5591
9 57
730
MA
+30
or P
hD
25
$180
0-$4
758
$465
0-$7
245
4,6,
7
AR
CH
DIO
CE
SE O
F L
AFA
YE
TT
E, I
N
Dio
cesa
n E
lem
. and
Sec
onda
ry S
choo
ls
2785
5 33
570
- 35
537
4566
7 n/
a n/
a n/
a $2
900-
$542
8 $7
325-
$135
75
5
DIO
CE
SE O
F W
OR
CE
STE
R, M
A
Dio
cesa
n E
lem
. and
Sec
onda
ry S
choo
ls
3433
0 62
277
19
3683
0 64
777
6627
7 M
A+3
0 19
$4
050-
$660
0 $6
850-
$870
0 1,
8
GR
AN
D R
API
DS,
MI
Dio
c./P
aris
h El
em. &
Sec
onda
ry S
choo
ls
2600
0 67
300
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
$219
3-$5
500
$604
0-$9
180
DIO
CE
SE O
F K
AL
AM
AZ
OO
, MI
D
ioce
san/
Paris
h El
em. &
Sec
onda
ry
Scho
ols
2000
0-28
972
3000
0-43
457
5-31
22
260-
3071
0 30
465-
5620
3 56
203
PhD
35
$9
80-$
4888
$1
930-
$964
9 4,
7 D
IOC
ESE
OF
KA
NSA
S C
ITY
- ST
. JO
SEPH
, MO
Elem
enta
ry a
nd S
econ
dary
Sch
ools
26
462-
3029
6 30
296-
3501
4 4
2879
0-46
875
3278
2-46
875
n/a
n/a
n/a
varie
s va
ries
4,7
AR
CH
DIO
CE
SE O
F ST
. LO
UIS
, MO
Dio
cesa
n El
emen
tary
Sch
ools
27
981
5154
4 44
28
681
6413
8 67
546
MA
+30
44
$228
4-$6
642
n/a
1,7
Dio
cesa
n Se
cond
ary
Scho
ols
2948
1 50
940
40
3078
1 71
058
7328
7 M
A+3
0 40
n/
a $8
670-
$120
50
1,8
DIO
CE
SE O
F C
AM
DE
N, N
J
Dio
cesa
n Se
cond
ary
Scho
ols
3121
5-39
004
6334
8-76
762
36-4
0 32
890-
4138
1 65
734-
7913
8 68
118-
8151
3 2M
A o
r PhD
36
-40
n/a
$895
0-$9
645
4,8
DIO
CE
SE O
F M
ET
UC
HE
N, N
J
Dio
cesa
n/Pa
rish
Elem
. & S
econ
dary
Sc
hool
s 30
687
4470
5 20
32
221
4694
0 49
176
PhD
20
$4
250-
$646
0 $1
2900
-$1
3500
1,
7
DIO
CE
SE O
F T
RE
NT
ON
, NJ
Hol
y C
ross
Hig
h Sc
hool
38
150
7542
7 55
38
600
7619
9 77
140
MA
+30
or P
HD
55
n/
a $1
2000
1,
8
St. J
ohn
Via
nney
Hig
h Sc
hool
37
500
6575
6 20
39
150
6740
6 69
306
Dua
l MA
20
n/
a $1
2995
1,
8
DIO
CE
SE O
F SA
NT
A F
E, N
M
D
ioc.
& P
aris
h &
Priv
ate
Elem
. & S
ec.
Scho
ols
2870
5 52
446
30
3009
5 54
912
5817
3 Ph
D
30
$380
0-$6
750
$910
0-$1
2700
5
DIO
CE
SE O
F B
UFF
AL
O, N
Y
Ind/
Paris
h El
emen
tary
Sch
ools
26
910
3283
8 20
27
808
3369
8 n/
a n/
a n/
a n/
a n/
a 5,
8
1 Th
ere
is o
ne sa
lary
scal
e th
at is
stan
dard
for t
he sc
hool
(s) b
eing
repo
rted.
4
Sala
ries v
ary
from
scho
ol to
scho
ol; t
here
fore
, num
bers
refle
ct th
e lo
wes
t sch
ool a
nd th
e hi
ghes
t sch
ool b
eing
repo
rt-ed
--all
othe
r sch
ools
fall
betw
een
thes
e nu
mbe
rs.
5 Sa
larie
s var
y fr
om sc
hool
to sc
hool
; the
refo
re, n
umbe
rs re
flect
the
aver
age
of a
ll sc
hool
s bei
ng re
porte
d. 6
Sal
arie
s bei
ng re
porte
d ar
e fo
r Sec
-on
dary
Sch
ools
onl
y; E
lem
enta
ry S
choo
ls a
re a
sked
to p
ay a
min
imum
of 8
0% o
f the
ir lo
cal p
ublic
scho
ols,
with
a $
23,0
00 m
inim
um.
7. T
uitio
n V
arie
s sch
ool t
o sc
hool
; hig
her t
uitio
n fo
r non
-pa
rishi
oner
s. 8
. A N
atio
nal A
ssoc
iatio
n of
Cat
holic
Sch
ool T
each
ers A
ffili
ate
page 5 www.nacst.com
Newsworthy April 2018
page 6 www.nacst.com
Newsworthy April 2018 20
17-2
018
Lay
Tea
cher
s' S
alar
ies
Nam
e of
Dio
cese
B
asic
Sca
le
with
BA
/BS
Scal
e W
ith
MA
/E
quiv
alen
t
Top
Sal
ary
Tui
tion
Cha
rged
Com
-m
ents
St
artin
g M
axim
um
# of
step
s to
reac
h m
axi-
mum
St
artin
g M
axim
um
Bey
ond
MA
# of
cre
dits
or
degr
ee to
rea
ch
# of
step
s to
reac
h to
p sa
lary
E
lem
enta
ry
Seco
ndar
y
DIO
CE
SE O
F O
GD
EN
SBU
RG
, NY
Dio
cesa
n an
d Pa
rish
Scho
ols
1760
0-30
000
3914
0 va
ries
2100
0-30
660
3689
0 n/
a n/
a n/
a $2
000-
$390
0 $5
050-
$510
0 4
DIO
CE
SE O
F C
LE
VE
LA
ND
, OH
Dio
cesa
n Se
cond
ary
Scho
ols
3392
0 54
070
40
3622
0 65
920
6807
0 M
A+3
6/Ph
D
40
n/a
$820
0-$1
0,20
0 1,
8
DIO
CE
SE O
F Y
OU
NG
STO
WN
, OH
Dio
cesa
n El
emen
tary
& S
econ
dary
Sc
hool
s 17
001-
3038
6 52
501
30
3307
2 58
807
6198
9 Ph
D
30
$250
0-$4
650
$800
0 4
DIO
CE
SE O
F A
LT
OO
NA
-JO
HN
STO
WN
, PA
Indi
vidu
al S
econ
dary
Sch
ool
2400
0 56
148
- 24
500
5664
8 n/
a n/
a n/
a n/
a $6
500
1,8
DIO
CE
SE O
F E
RIE
, PA
Dio
cesa
n/Pa
rish
Elem
enta
ry S
choo
ls
2299
3 - N
o M
ax
3935
2 - N
o M
ax
40
2561
1 - N
o M
ax
3272
2 - N
o M
ax
3371
6 - N
o M
ax
MA
+18
9 $2
676-
$405
3 $4
930-
$947
5 4
AR
CH
DIO
CE
SE O
F PH
ILA
DE
L-
PHIA
, PA
Dio
cesa
n Se
cond
ary
Scho
ols
3980
0 79
065
43
4030
0 79
865
8050
5 Ph
D
43
n/a
$750
0 1,
8
DIO
CE
SE O
F PI
TT
SBU
RG
H, P
A
Dio
cesa
n El
emen
tary
Sch
ools
33
611
5846
7 21
n/
a n/
a n
/a
n/a
n/a
$380
0-$4
400
n/a
1,8
Dio
cesa
n Se
cond
ary
Scho
ols
3810
0 74
100
30
3880
0 75
600
7700
0 Ph
D
30
n/a
$100
00-
$130
00
1,8
DIO
CE
SE O
F SI
OU
X F
AL
LS,
SD
Dio
cesa
n El
emen
tary
& S
econ
dary
Sc
hool
s 32
185
4388
7 n/
a n/
a n/
a n/
a n/
a n/
a $8
00-$
2525
$2
565-
$517
5 5
DIO
CE
SE O
F E
L P
ASO
, TX
Paris
h/Pr
ivat
e El
em. &
Sec
onda
ry S
choo
ls 2
1942
-261
60
2989
3 21
24
068-
2989
3 61
028
n/a
n/a
n/a
$325
0-$6
910
$410
0-$7
210
4
DIO
CE
SE O
F FO
RT
WO
RT
H, T
X
Paris
h/Pr
ivat
e El
em. &
Sec
onda
ry S
choo
ls
2884
7 33
402
3 34
442
4288
0 72
000
n/a
n/a
$537
0-$7
200
$970
5-$1
5170
5
DIO
CE
SE O
F SU
PER
IOR
, WI
Paro
chia
l/Ele
men
tary
Sch
ools
21
250-
2900
0 no
scal
e no
scal
e 21
250-
3200
0 no
scal
e no
scal
e n/
a n/
a $1
500-
$320
0 n/
a 5
1 Th
ere
is o
ne sa
lary
scal
e th
at is
stan
dard
for t
he sc
hool
(s) b
eing
repo
rted.
4
Sala
ries v
ary
from
scho
ol to
scho
ol; t
here
fore
, num
bers
refle
ct th
e lo
wes
t sch
ool a
nd th
e hi
ghes
t sch
ool
bein
g re
porte
d--a
ll ot
her s
choo
ls fa
ll be
twee
n th
ese
num
bers
. 5
Sala
ries v
ary
from
scho
ol to
scho
ol; t
here
fore
, num
bers
refle
ct th
e av
erag
e of
all
scho
ols b
eing
repo
rted.
6 S
alar
ies
bein
g re
porte
d ar
e fo
r Sec
onda
ry S
choo
ls o
nly;
Ele
men
tary
Sch
ools
are
ask
ed to
pay
a m
inim
um o
f 80%
of t
heir
loca
l pub
lic sc
hool
s, w
ith a
$23
,000
min
imum
. 7.
Tui
tion
Var
ies
scho
ol to
scho
ol; h
ighe
r tui
tion
for n
on-p
aris
hion
ers.
8. A
Nat
iona
l Ass
ocia
tion
of C
atho
lic S
choo
l Tea
cher
s Aff
iliat
e
page 6 www.nacst.com
Newsworthy April 2018