Prayer rally for Catholic high school teacher’s union as they fight for a fair contract set for Sunday, March 27

By SHERI GASSAWAY
Correspondent

Show your support for St. Louis Archdiocese Teachers Association (SLATA) members Sunday, March 27 by attending a prayer rally as they fight for a just and fair contract agreement with the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

The event will be held at 11:30 a.m. on the steps of the Cathedral Basilica at 4431 Lindell Blvd. in the Central West End. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own signs that read: “Pray for our Teachers,” “Stop Union Busting” and “Practice what you preach.” The rally will conclude with a mass at the Cathedral at noon.

SLATA represents educators at Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory, Bishop DuBourg, Rosati-Kain, St. Mary’s and St. Pius X. While SLATA has enjoyed a collaborative relationship with the Archdiocese over the last 50 years, contract negotiations were very different this year.

About two weeks ago, 90 percent of teachers rejected the “last and final” contract proposal and asked the Archdiocese to reconvene for additional negotiation. Instead, the Archdiocese hand-delivered contracts different from their last proposed offer, which circumvented the very existence of the Association. The contracts must be returned March 31 or the positions will be considered “open.”

“We remain unified in our fight for a just and fair labor-management agreement that affirms the worth and value of educators who have given their lives to teaching in our mission-driven schools,” the union said in a statement. “Your continued support remains vital.”

WRITE A LETER OF SUPPORT
In addition to attending Sunday’s rally, SLATA members are encouraging supporters to write emails to both Archbishop Rozanski and Dr. Todd Sweda, the superintendent of Catholic Schools. Here are some sample letters and email addresses:

ROZANSKI LETTER:

Dear Archbishop Rozanski,

The teachers of the Archdiocesan high schools in SLATA overwhelmingly voted to reject your offered contract and to send their representatives back to the bargaining table. The Archdiocese responded by issuing contracts anyway and attempting to circumvent the existence of the association that has represented teachers since 1968. Please ask your representatives to return to the bargaining table and continue to negotiate with the teachers. Church teaching clearly supports the role of workers’ associations; union busting is against Church teaching.

archbishopsoffice@archstl.org

SWEDA LETTER:

Dear Dr. Sweda,

The teachers of the Archdiocesan high schools in SLATA overwhelmingly voted to reject your offered contract and to send their representatives back to the bargaining table. Your office responded by issuing contracts anyway and attempting to circumvent the existence of the association that has represented teachers since 1968. The Archdiocese should return to the bargaining table and continue to negotiate with the teachers. Church teaching clearly supports the role of workers’ associations. 

ToddSweda@archstl.org

SIGN-UP FOR UPDATES
SLATA also encourages supporters share this information with others in your church, school and neighborhood communities by inviting them to sign up for updates at bit.ly/SLATA.