Credit: Erich Martin/NewtownPANow.com
Educators in the region’s Catholic high school have secured a contract just in time for the start of the new school year.
On Thursday, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Secondary School System and the Association of Catholic School Teachers, also known as Local 1776, finalized a three-year contract for the full-time teachers across the 15 archdiocesan high schools spanning five counties, including Bristol Township’s Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, which serves all of Lower Bucks County.
Under the new deal, teachers can anticipate salary boosts amounting to a minimum of $2,200 annually. Other parts of the deal include enhanced stipends for departmental leads and those involved in extracurricular ventures, growth in medical contributions over the second and third years, and new job protection measures for full-time educators.
“Over the past several months, leadership teams from both parties worked diligently to develop an agreement that recognizes the value, hard work, and dedication of our teachers while continuing to position the Archdiocesan system of Catholic secondary schools for growth and excellence grounded in the values of the Gospel and the spirit of Missionary Discipleship. Our teachers are valued partners in the formation of the young people we serve now and for life,” the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said in a statement.
Local 1776 shared that its members resoundingly endorsed the new contract.
Talks regarding the contract started back in February.
The contract doesn’t encompass educators in parish and regional Catholic primary schools in the region.
The previous contract was set to end Thursday evening. An earlier proposal by the church in June had been vetoed by union members.
Catholic high schools in the region are gearing up to commence the school year next Tuesday.
