Archdiocese, Catholic High School Teachers' Union Reach Early Contract Deal
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's an early contract deal for teachers at Philadelphia-area Catholic high schools.
It's one more year of labor peace at the 17 Archdiocesan high schools. Members of the Association of Catholic Teachers Local 1776 have ratified a new one-year contract that provides raises of $1,200 and calls for "moderate" increases in employee health care contributions.
Archdiocese secretary for education Christopher Mominey says the goal of both sides was avoiding a strike threat this fall.
"We went in with the ambition of getting this done before summer, before our students went on break to give our parents and our kids some assurance that we won't miss a beat come September," Mominey.
A strike in 2011 cost students a week of classes. The new deal takes effect September 1.
14,000 students attend the 17 high schools.