The Vatican Denies Collective Bargaining for Catholic Teachers

When the Bishop Joseph F. Martino refused to recognize the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers as a collective bargaining unit the union took it's case to the Vatican. The Vatican responded to the union earlier this week stating, "The bishop and diocese have violated no civil or church law, and that Canon Law does not prohibit the bishop’s action, according to the diocese." In fact, the Vatican supported Bishop Martino's decision.

Unions are unnecessary to ensure fair labor policies and fair wages. Collective bargaining can even hurt school districts by protecting mediocre teachers. Administrations have a natural incentive to address their teacher's concerns- in response to the current situation the Scranton diocese is creating an employee relations programs. If catholic school teachers are unsatisfied with their pay they always have the freedom to work for a public school, and be forced to join a union.

Union supporters have complained that the Bishop's denial of SDACT will cost schools more money in the form of sick pay and severance pay due to teachers who were laid off. Question, when has unionizing saved any organization money? After all a union's job is to squeeze as much money from the school as possible.

If House Bill 2626 or a similar law were to pass teachers and employees at religious schools could decide by a majority vote if they want to be unionized. Such an act would also give the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board jurisdiction over parochial schools, spreading the dysfunction in the Pennsylvania's education system. The results would hurt our economy by expanding forced unionism and hinder the quality of our education through more teacher strikes.