Pocono News Section

Holy Cross HS Closed Friday by Teacher Sick-out

Holy Cross HS Closed Friday by Teacher Sick-out - Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 6:00PM EST

Reported by: David DeCosmo
Thursday, Mar 13, 2008 @06:00pm EST

SCRANTON/DUNMORE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Both campuses of Holy Cross High School are closed Friday due to a faculty sick-out. It's believed to be the latest volley in the ongoing conflict between teachers and the Scranton Diocese for not recognizing a teacher's union.

Word of the sick out came just hours after the Diocese of Scranton said it is moving ahead with plans to set up a so-called employee relations council. But many teachers and their supporters continue to fight to get a union of their own.

Some teachers and a number of people representing support staff workers at Catholic Schools in the region showed up at Saint Mary's Center to learn more about a district-wide committee that's suppose to represent their needs and concerns. The so-called employee council is the group the diocese recognizes to handle labor matters for all catholic school workers.

The session itself was closed door to the news media. Our cameras were not allowed inside. But there was plenty of activity outside as well. A handful of demonstrators showed up to support the demand of many teachers that they be allowed to form their own union. Several represented other labor organizations

Gary Anthony of IAM declared: "These people need representation. I mean under the guidelines they're an employee at will right now. Whether anybody wants to say that's right or wrong, that's what they are. They can be fired at any time. If they don't like the color of their hair or the way they act they can be fired with no excuses and no representation."

Kris Snyder of the UF&CW Union sated "It gets back to the basic principal that an injury to one is an injury to all. As a region, we've come together. I work for the Northeast Area Labor Federation and all of our affiliated unions are in support of these teachers because they need to have representatives as my colleague just said."

A couple of parents showed up to show their support for a teacher's union too.

Sharon Hourigan drove up from Mountain Top. She explained her reason for coming. "We really want to stand behind our teachers. We appreciate their dedication and we're in debt to them."

Most of those teachers, of course, were in school when the meeting was held.

Bishop Joseph Martino has repeatedly said his decision to refuse to recognize the teacher's union is final.