STATEMENT FROM JASON BUDD, CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR THE OFFICE OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION, REGARDING RATIFICATION OF TEACHER CONTRACT

Earlier today, the Secondary School System of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Association of Catholic School Teachers, Local 1776 (ACT) reached a two-year agreement for a new contract for full-time, lay high school teachers in the seventeen Archdiocesan high schools. 

The Office of Catholic Education (OCE) is pleased that the general membership of ACT ratified the contract today.  It is the agreement we had hoped to obtain for the current and future benefit of everyone most especially our students and school families.

Since April 2018, the focus of the OCE negotiating team has been to achieve a contract that provides the best possible educational environment for the young people entrusted to our care while respecting the sacrifice and dedication of our educators. We are grateful to the teachers for ratifying the agreement which included the changes we were looking for in professional responsibilities while providing increases in salary and benefits.

Teachers will receive salary increases of $1,200 a year which the average percentage increase being 2.3%.  The medical plan and employee contributions will remain the same due to favorable claim experience with the medical plan.

OCE is most grateful for the sacrifices school families make for their children and takes its responsibility seriously to create classroom environments where excellence in faith formation, teaching and learning is paramount.   OCE is delighted to have its students and teachers in the classroom for the start of the 2018-2019 school year as scheduled.

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 Editor’s Note: The contract negotiations pertain only to the 17 Archdiocesan high schools. There are approximately 11,600 students enrolled in these schools and approximately 600 full-time lay teachers who are members of ACT 1776.

Parish and regional Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are not affected by this process.

For more information on Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia please visit www.aopcatholicschools.org/.

 

Contact:

Contact: Kenneth A. Gavin
Chief Communications Officer
215-587-3747 (office)