Diocese teacher union meeting draws 200

Approximately 200 people showed up at a Monday meeting to support efforts to unionize Catholic School Teachers in Luzerne and

Lackawanna County , Union President Michael Milz said.

Milz released a Jan. 27 letter sent to Diocese of Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino asking him to reverse the decision to reject unionization in favor of an “employee relations program.” That letter proposes a secret ballot election among teachers, overseen by a neutral third party, to determine if teachers want to have the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic School Teachers become their sole representative in collective bargaining.

Milz also released a response from Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Joseph Casciano, dated Jan. 30, saying “The proposal in your letter is declined by the Diocese of Scranton .” Casciano also says the diocese plans “To implement Employee Councils and to do our very best to provide affordable Catholic Education to our families.”

Monday’s meeting was held to share those letters with the teachers who want to unionize, Milz said. “We want everybody to know this is the case and that we’re going to make him to reverse the decision he’s made. There’s no way we’re going to rest until there is a change made in the current policy.”

Ultimately that could lead to disruption of schools through a walkout, but Milz has repeatedly downplayed that option, insisting he wants reconciliation with the diocese.

“In the interim, we’re trying to get the word out to as many people as we can to perhaps intercede on our behalf,” Milz said. “We’re going to write to every parent in the diocese, write to our school boards to reconsider their position. See if that garners any kind of response.”

The union has sought recognition since the November, 2006 announcement of a school restructuring plan that eliminates smaller school boards in favor of four regional ones, canceling agreements the union had made with the smaller boards.

Milz has repeatedly said he is convinced the vast majority of teachers in three of those four regions, including the one encompassing Luzerne County , would vote to joint the union if given a chance.

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