The Federation of Catholic Teachers (FCT), representing nearly 3,200 educators, including aides and teacher assistants, across 87 Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of New York (ADNY), has launched a “Work To Rule” job action in response to the Archdiocese’s proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which would increase teachers’ out-of-pocket healthcare costs between 500% and 1,000%, while offering only a 2% annual raise for each of the next three years.
Teachers warn that ADNY’s proposal would make healthcare financially unsustainable for the people who carry out the mission of Catholic education every day.
Rapid Employer Concession Shows the Power of Work to Rule
Within days of instituting Work To Rule — requiring teachers to perform exactly and only the duties specified in the CBA — the Archdiocese issued a counter-proposal to phase in the healthcare cap increases over three years.
While the concession acknowledges the pressure generated by Work To Rule, the FCT stresses this revised cap remains unacceptable:
“Increasing caps by 500% to 1,000% — even phased in — is neither fair, reasonable, nor financially viable,” said Leanne Cole, FCT's president. “It reflects just how much unpaid labor our teachers pour into their schools every single day. If we hadn’t been going above and beyond for years, Work To Rule would not have generated such an immediate response.”
FCT leadership continues urging the Archdiocese to engage in good-faith bargaining, noting repeated concerns raised by teachers over the course of negotiations. The action’s effectiveness has already led other schools outside the ACS group to explore Work To Rule as a strategy in their own negotiations.
Parents Mobilize: FCT Launches the New “Alliance of Parents and Teachers”
For the first time in its nearly 60-year history, the FCT is receiving an unprecedented volume of outreach over the last several months from parents, legislators, parishioners, and community leaders (from parents) expressing concern about the future of Catholic schools.
In response, the FCT has been forming the Alliance of Parents and Teachers, dedicated to:
- Strengthening Catholic schools: Identifying system shortcomings, proposing solutions, and working in true partnership with ADNY to build a more stable and thriving school system.
- Presenting a united front: Advocating for fair wages, affordable healthcare, adequate staffing, and student resources — while reducing unnecessary Catholic school closures and mergers.
- Correcting misinformation: Providing accurate information about school finances, teacher compensation, enrollment patterns, and the need for improved outreach to increase enrollment.
“Parents are seeing the strain first-hand, and they want transparency, stability, and fairness,” said Teresa Clarke, FCT's vice president. “This alliance is about uniting the people who care most about Catholic education: the teachers who dedicate their lives to it, and the families who depend on it.”
Upcoming Rally to Unite Teachers, Parents, and Communities
The FCT is organizing a public rally in New York City to bring together educators, parents, alumni, and supporters from across the Archdiocese. The rally will call for:
- Fair and good-faith bargaining
- Affordable, sustainable healthcare
- Stronger investment in Catholic education
- An end to the cycle of school mergers and closures
Details about the rally’s date, location, and speakers will be announced shortly.
FCT Preparing to File Unfair Labor Practice Charge
The FCT is preparing to file an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), asserting that the Archdiocese has failed to bargain in good faith during negotiations.
“We remain committed to protecting Catholic education for generations to come,” said Cole. “But we cannot do that if the people educating our children cannot afford to take their own children to the doctor.”
About Federation of Catholic Teachers (FCT)
Founded in 1968, the Federation of Catholic Teachers represents nearly 3,200 educators, school aides, paraprofessionals, teachers’ aides, and assistants across 87 Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of New York. For more than five decades, the FCT has worked to ensure fair working conditions, professional dignity, and high-quality education rooted in Catholic values. For more information, visit fct153.com.
Media Contact
Leanne Cole
info@fct143.org
