There remains some uncertainty as to what working conditions the Diocese would impose on those teachers hired in the new school systems.  Until changed by a new union contract, some of those conditions would include the following:

· A 3% increase above an individual’s last year salary in his/her old school.

· Health care insurance coverage requiring an up-front teacher contribution between $1000 and $1600 per year (depending on individual or family coverage) and an a whopping $500 per person deductible. (In the past, most union teachers contributed nothing toward health care and had deductibles of $125 per person)

· No employer-paid dental (Most union teachers formerly received employer-paid family dental).

· An employer pension contribution equal to the percentage contributed by the employer during the last year in the old school.

· No employer-paid family vision care.

· 10 sick days per year with accumulation up to 45 days. (Most union teachers had unlimited accumulation of days and reimbursement for unused sick days).

· No word on personal days, disability insurance, tenure, and a myriad of other conditions.

     These proposals are a good indication of what we’d all be in for without a union.  After 30 years of unionization in the Diocese of Scranton, we were just about starting to catch up to the rest of the profession.  Conditions such as those proposed by the Diocese would be an incredible setback to those efforts. 

     But, keep the faith!  Together, we can begin moving forward again.