New York Catholic school teachers vote to strike during pope's visit

Published: 2008-04-04

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A group of teachers in New York Catholic schools voted April 1 to go on strike during the pope's visit to New York. The teachers, part of the Lay Faculty Association, a union which represents 450 teachers at 10 high schools, voted 132-20 in favor of the strike. The union has been without a contract since last August. The main issues for the teachers are salaries, health insurance payments and pension plans. The teachers' group is seeking an increase in pay for top-tier teachers, from $53,000 to $60,000. The New York Archdiocese has proposed a final offer of $58,225, an increase of nearly $8,000 more than the current top-tier salary, but the union has rejected the offer. Members also want an increase in the pension plan and no increase in the premiums they pay for health insurance. Henry Kielkucki, business manager for the Lay Faculty Association, told Catholic News Service April 3 that after the vote was announced archdiocesan officials said they would meet with union representatives April 10.

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