The decision to not recognize a teachers union in the Diocese of Scranton is final, according to a diocesan statement issued Monday.One day after Bishop Joseph F. Martino addressed criticism in a newspaper advertisement of the diocese’s refusal to recognize the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers, the battle for union rights continued.
On Monday, union officials responded with a letter asking the bishop for justification on why he won’t talk with them directly.
“What we want is a decent living wage and decent health benefits, that’s all we care about,” James Lynch, union vice president, said Monday.
In its statement issued Monday, the diocese stated Bishop Martino has “clearly explained the decision” regarding the rejection of the union.
“This decision was made after a thorough evaluation, and the conclusion is detailed in the bishop’s letter,” the statement read. “The decision is final.”
In the advertisement, which was published in The Sunday Times, Bishop Martino wrote he has been “disappointed by the invective and disrespect that have been unleashed against me through public statements and quotes in the media” by union officials and supporters.
Many of the union’s claims have been “misleading, inaccurate or simply false,” the bishop wrote.
The diocese had not addressed specific issues the union raised before the bishop’s letter was published.
Previous statements have been about the newly formed employee relations program and the diocese’s commitment to its employees.
Diocesan officials have rejected invitations to discuss the program with the union, Mr. Lynch said.
The bishop also wrote he is not ignoring Catholic social teaching, which has been historically supportive of the union rights of workers, and instead is looking at the factors surrounding the union issue.
“Labor unions seek to obtain increased benefits for their members,” Bishop Martino wrote, adding he has the duty to “define and protect” Catholic education.
In the union letter, union President Michael Milz wrote that for 30 years, before the diocese restructured its schools, the union represented teachers in many diocesan schools and had bargained hundreds of contracts.
“Unions seek not only wages and benefits for their members, but a voice in their working conditions and a contract,” Mr. Milz wrote.
On Monday, Mr. Milz said he found the bishop’s letter “enlightening” because he learned Bishop Martino’s reasoning and “union avoidance” tactics.
Last month, the diocese announced it would not recognize the union, and instead is implementing an employee-relations program for all school workers.
Employee councils include wage and benefit, health care and grievance committees, and employee representatives have already attended orientation.
“Through this commitment we will maintain a strong Catholic identity in our schools, an identity we owe in justice to both our parents and students,” Bishop Martino wrote.
On Thursday, the union placed an advertisement in The Times-Tribune directed to parents of students in diocesan schools.
In the letter, union officials asked parents to stop donating to their parishes.
If teachers continue to not have a choice on their representation, a work stoppage may occur.
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