Catholic teachers ask for mediator

THE UNION representing teachers at Catholic highschools yesterday asked for the Philadelphia Archdiocese to call in a mediator to resolve a contract dispute that threatens the start of the school year.

The teachers' contract expires today, and the 17 schools in the five-county Archdiocese are set to open next Wednesday.

Rita Schwartz, president of the Association of Catholic Teachers Local 1776, said a mediator could help reach a contract proposal that could be voted on by Tuesday.

"We are so far apart on so many issues, we need someone to try to bring us together," she said. "We aren't able to do it ourselves. And it's got to be somebody neutral."

The Archdiocese said in a statement that it "cannot agree to the request" and that union leaders "previously emphatically stated that these negotiations would be done only by the teams of negotiators present at the bargaining table."

About 200 teachers rallied in front of Archdiocese headquarters, 17th and Vine streets, yesterday. Teachers said they were concerned about proposed changes to grievance policies and also a rule change for teachers who work at schools that close because of declining enrollment.

Schwartz said they would be laid off and have to reapply to work at another Catholic school.