Diocese fires man who led union push

WILKES-BARRE -- Michael Milz, the man who has been most vocal and visible in the fight to unionize Catholic school teachers in the Diocese of Scranton, has lost his teaching job at Holy Redeemer High School.

Milz said he received a letter from James Burke, human resources director at the diocese, notifying him that he will not be needed next year “due to staffing needs.”

Milz said he understands five other people in the Holy Redeemer school system, which covers Luzerne County, and two in the Holy Cross system that includes Lackawanna County, received similar letters, but he had no details.

Attempts to reach diocesan spokesman Bill Genello late Monday afternoon via phone and e-mail were not successful.

The diocese steadfastly and repeatedly said the decision to reject the union in favor of the employee relations program is final and irrevocable.

Milz said he expected the move “for a long time.” As president of the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers, he has been pushing for more than a year to have the teachers unionize.

The association had represented teachers in several schools until last year’s diocese-wide restructuring of schools. Small local school boards were abolished and four regional boards were formed, nullifying any contracts the union had negotiated.

The association had sought recognition as the bargaining agent for teachers in three of the four regions, but in January the diocese rejected the request and launched an employee relations program that officials have vowed will represent all school employees fairly.

Milz said his job loss is an example of how that is not happening. A teacher for 33 years, he does not have enough seniority in the system to keep his job over those with less experience.

That’s because when the diocese restructured, it ruled that high school teacher seniority would only count within the school where they were already working. Milz said that means that, even though he has seniority over several teachers and as a result should still have a job at a different school, he doesn’t have seniority at Holy Redeemer.

“After I’m laid off there will be seven, and maybe more, people with less seniority in the same certification, secondary social studies,” Milz said. “That’s the problem, that’s the issue. That’s why we’re looking to organize. The rules they make up make no sense whatsoever.”

Milz said he will continue to serve as association president “as long as the members want me to” and will continue to fight to unionize the teachers. The best bet so far may be a push by state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, to amend the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act so it covers Catholic school teachers.

Milz said he’s been told at least 70 representatives have signed on to support the bill, and he’s hoping it will be printed and submitted to the House committee by Saturday, when the union plans to stage a 1 p.m. rally on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. The union is encouraging supporters to attend.

When Pashinski announced his proposed amendment on May 23, the diocese made a brief announcement promising to review the bill and declining comment.