Teachers, students protest for union

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19345461&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=455154&rfi=6

BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL AND BRIAN JARVIS, STAFF WRITER
02/29/2008

Teachers picketed in front of diocesan high schools in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and Williamsport this morning before classes started, and students walked out of classes at Holy Redeemer High School to show their support for teachers.

With a temperature in the teens, about 50 teachers at Holy Cross High School in Scranton, who also were joined by several students, held signs demanding that the Diocese of Scranton recognize the teachers union.


Holy Redeemer students walk out of school in support of teachers. Warren Ruda / The Citizens' Voice


"It's a sad day," English and Latin teacher Bill Kearney said. "All we'd like to do is have our basic human rights."

Picketing also happened this morning at Holy Redeemer and St. John Neumann High School in Williamsport.

Last month, the diocese announced the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers would not be recognized as a collective bargaining unit, and instead the diocese is implementing an employee relations program.

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