Teachers, Archdiocese Reach Contract Deal

After one failed attempt to come to terms in May, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and negotiators from the union representing the Catholic high school teachers have reached a tentative deal to renew their contract, according to a joint statement by the two parties.

The details of the agreement have not been released, and the approximately 635 members of the Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Catholic Teachers still need to vote for the new deal.

A proposed renewal was rejected at the end of May by the members, primarily because the salary increase would not cover the increase in medical benefit payments.

The contract will be effective starting September 1, 2015 and covers only teachers in the Archdiocese’s 17 high schools in the Philadelphia region. Elementary school teachers are not included in the contract.