Catholic unions slam leaders on reopening
Teachers in the Archdiocese of New York, irate over their omission f rom COVID-19 protocol planning, filed two unfair labor complaints as more than 100 local Catholic schools prepare to open next week.
The charges leveled with the state Public Employment Relations Board allege the Association of Catholic Schools, despite eight meetings with the union over the last three months, had “no intention” of reaching a collaborative agreement with its 2,500 teachers over the proper handling of coronavirus in the classrooms. And indeed, said teachers union head Joanne Perrotta, the association only shared specific plans for reopening this past Wednesday without any input from the people set to stand in front of its students.
“I don’t think one week is enough time to put the teachers back in the classroom,” said Perrotta, head of the Federation of Catholic Teachers Local 153. “The plans need to be reviewed. A determination needs to be made as to whether or not the classrooms and buildings meet the requirements for social distancing, ventilation, signage, closing protocols, testing.”
According to Perrotta, the archdiocese has still failed to provide information about 23 of its 107 about-to-open schools despite a June request for negotiations by the union over COVID precautions. The schools are set to open Sept. 7 or 8, depending on their locations, even as
Mayor de Blasio this week announced the city’s in-person school opening was pushed back 11 days to Sept. 21.
“These teachers need to feel safe,”said Parotta. “And right now, they really don’t. We don’t feel safe. It’s too quick.”
Principals received copies of a 41-page reopening plan in July, with the union blanching at its exclusion from that process as well.
“We have been and will continue to work with our union in the appropriate manner in the proper forum,” said TJ McCormack, spokesman for the school association. “Our Catholic schools students and their families are looking forward to seeing their beloved teachers next week on the first day of school.”
But in its filing, the teachers charged the archdiocese failed to respond to their counterproposals about policies to keep everyone safe once the school doors reopen and tens of thousands of students return.
“The employer … has evidenced no intention to reach an agreement with the union regarding the subject of the impact bargaining,” the filing alleged. “The employer is, quite simply, going through the motions or worse.”
The teachers were already rattled by the July shuttering of 20 Catholic schools due to financial problems, with 350 among its ranks laid off as a result.
“We’re concerned about the health and safety of our teachers,” said Perrotta. “I mean, it’s like pulling teeth to get anything out of them.”