Three St. Louis Catholic High Schools have suspended their classes due to the staffing shortages they are experiencing because of the current contract issues.
Contract Issues
On the official website of KSDK– Channel 5’s official virtual channel, according to the union president, three St. Louis Catholic high schools are closed Monday due to continuing contract discussions between the organization that represents more than 100 teachers and the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
It is also stated on the same website that classes were canceled due to staffing shortages and unresolved contract concerns impacting instructors at Bishop DuBourg High School, Rosati-Kain High School, and St. Mary's High School. Classes at Cardinal Ritter and St. Pius X high schools will not be disrupted.
In line with that, it is also mentioned on the same website that hundreds of Catholic high school teachers gathered in front of the Cathedral Basilica before Mass on Sunday, March 27, to pray for a resolution to the continuing labor conflict with the Archdiocese.
As per the same website, it is also stated that the teacher's union and the Archdiocese began bargaining in October but have yet to come to an agreement. The current contract was set to end on March 4th.
Also mentioned on the same website that if the two sides cannot reach an agreement, Williams-Heese, who is also a teacher at DuBourg, said a strike is still a possibility. She further stated that on March 9, more than 90% of union members voted against the Archdiocese's final offer.
Archdiocese’s New Offer
Referring to the same website, it is stated that meanwhile, the Archdiocese made at-will contract offers to instructors. The contract offers have a signature date of April 1 at the very latest and March 29 at the very least. Teachers have requested a deadline extension but have not received a response from the Archdiocese.
It is also mentioned on the same website, the contracts were part of a new wage structure that all five colleges would use. It would raise remuneration for teaching extra classes and the amount schools would pay for instructors seeking graduate degrees.
In accordance with that, it is also stated on the same website that the rejected plan would have raised starting teacher pay from $30,387 to $33,000, while teachers with 10 years of service and a master's degree would have received a $5,000 boost from $36,646 to $41,599.
Archdiocese's offer, as per the same website stated that the salary for more experienced teachers would have been reduced by more than $7,000 per year. According to the union, during discussions, the Archdiocese stated that more experienced teachers would be examined individually and may anticipate a 1% rise.
It is also mentioned on the same website that in the case of a school closure, the contract did not contain job placement protection for instructors.
It is mentioned on the same website that with all of the requests and proposals made, the Archdiocese of St. Louis issued an official statement to the 5 On Your Side last Tuesday. They said that they answered last week to the St. Louis Archdiocesan Teacher Association's request to meet with their representatives again to continue discussing and negotiating areas of concern.
For more news and updates, one can visit KSDK’s official website and its official Twitter account.
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