Catholic K-12 Education

According to the National Catholic Educational Association, 150,000 teachers and support staff instruct nearly two million children in our nation’s Catholic schools. Before the 1960s most teaching positions were filled by vowed religious (nuns, friars, and priests who belonged to religious orders). Today lay men and women account for more than 97% of the Catholic school workforce.

Unlike most Catholic hospitals and universities, Catholic schools are typically operated directly by the Church. Elementary and Middle schools are generally operated by parishes, while high schools are more commonly operated by a diocese or sponsoring religious order. Because they are directly operated by the Church and charged with teaching religious doctrine to Catholic youth, the courts have exempted these schools from the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Act, citing the First Amendment’s absolute protections of religious freedom.

This exemption does NOT mean that teachers lack the right to form unions and bargain collectively, just that the National Labor Relations Board will not protect them from those that might violate their rights. The NLRB’s absence does not absolve the pastor, school board or principal from the Bishops’ injunction that “All the moral principles that govern the just operation of any economic endeavor apply to the Church and its agencies and institutions; indeed the Church should be exemplary (Economic Justice for All, 1986).”

Indeed, thousands of Catholic Schoolteachers across the United States have formed unions and established mutually rewarding collective bargaining relationships with individual Catholic schools or entire Diocesan school systems. Some belong to familiar unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO, while many others belong to an independent union, the National Association of Catholic School Teachers.

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Catholic K-12 Education

According to the National Catholic Educational Association, 150,000 teachers and support staff instruct nearly two million children in our nation’s Catholic schools. Before the 1960s most teaching positions were filled by vowed religious (nuns, friars, and priests who belonged to religious orders). Today lay men and women account for more than 97% of the Catholic school workforce.

Unlike most Catholic hospitals and universities, Catholic schools are typically operated directly by the Church. Elementary and Middle schools are generally operated by parishes, while high schools are more commonly operated by a diocese or sponsoring religious order. Because they are directly operated by the Church and charged with teaching religious doctrine to Catholic youth, the courts have exempted these schools from the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Act, citing the First Amendment’s absolute protections of religious freedom.

This exemption does NOT mean that teachers lack the right to form unions and bargain collectively, just that the National Labor Relations Board will not protect them from those that might violate their rights. The NLRB’s absence does not absolve the pastor, school board or principal from the Bishops’ injunction that “All the moral principles that govern the just operation of any economic endeavor apply to the Church and its agencies and institutions; indeed the Church should be exemplary (Economic Justice for All, 1986).”

Indeed, in approximately 300 K-12 Catholic Schools across the across the United States, teachers have formed unions and established mutually rewarding collective bargaining relationships with individual Catholic schools or entire Diocesan school systems. Some belong to familiar unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO, while many others belong to an independent union, the National Association of Catholic School Teachers.

Below find hundreds of Catholic schools with unions representing teachers and other staff; if yours is missing, contact clayton@catholiclabor.org.

 

California

Archdiocese of San Francisco

AFT Local 2240

1. Marin Catholic HS, Kentfield  CA
2. Sacred Heart Cathedral HS, San Francisco CA
3. Archbishop Riordan HS, San Francisco CA
4. Junipero Serra HS, San Mateo CA

Diocese of San Jose

AFT 2240

1. Archbishop Mitty HS, San Jose CA

Connecticut

Archdiocese of Hartford

NACST, Greater Hartford Catholic Education Association

• 1. East Catholic HS, Manchester CT
  2. Northwest Catholic HS, West Hartford CT
  3. Sacred Heart High School, Waterbury CT
  4. Paul HS, Bristol CT

 

Missouri

Archdiocese of St. Louis

NACST, St. Louis Archdiocesan Teachers Association

• Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory
• Bishop DuBourg High School
• Rosati-Kain High School
• Marys High School
• Pius X High School
• Trinity Catholic High School

 

New Jersey

Archdiocese of Newark

LIUNA Local 305

1. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, NJ
2. Hudson Catholic Regional High School, Jersey City, NJ
3. Mother Seton Regional High School, Clark, NJ
4. Paramus Catholic High School, Paramus, NJ
5. Roselle Catholic High School, Roselle, NJ
6. Saint Joseph Regional High School, Montvale, NJ
7. Union Catholic Regional High School, Scotch Plains, NJ

NACST

1. St Joseph’s HS, West New York NJ
2. Our Lady of Peace ES, Fords NJ

Diocese of Trenton

AFT

1. Monsignor Donovan HS, Tom’s River NJ

NACST

1. Holy Cross HS, Delran NJ
2. St. Rose Grammar School, Belmar NJ
3. St. John Vianney, Holmdel NJ

 

Diocese of Camden

NACST

1. Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill NJ
2. Holy Spirit High School, Absecon NJ
3. Paul VI High School, Haddon Twp. NJ
4. St. Joseph High School, Hammonton NJ
5. Wildwood Catholic High School, Wildwood NJ

 

New York

Archdiocese of New York

OPEIU Local 153, Federation of Catholic Teachers

1. 1. Blessed Sacrament, Staten Island NY
   2. Holy Rosary, Staten Island NY
   3. Monsignor Farrell HS, Staten Island NY
   4. Notre Dame Academy HS, Staten Island NY
   5. Our Lady Help of Christians, Staten Island NY
   6. Our Lady of Good Counsel, Staten Island NY
   7. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel/St. Benedicta, Staten Island NY
   8. Our Lady Queen of Peace, Staten Island NY
   9. Our Lady Star of the Sea, Staten Island NY
   10. Sacred Heart, Staten Island NY
   11. St. Adalbert, Staten Island NY
   12. St. Ann, Staten Island NY
   13. St. Charles, Staten Island NY
   14. St. Christopher, Staten Island NY
   15. St. Clare, Staten Island NY
   16. St. Joseph – St. Thomas, Staten Island NY
   17. St. Joseph by-the-Sea HS, Staten Island NY
   18. St. Patrick, Staten Island NY
   19. St. Peter’s Boys HS, Staten Island NY
   20. St. Peter-St. Paul, Staten Island NY
   21. St. Rita, Staten Island NY
   22. St. Teresa, Staten Island NY
   23. Dominican Academy HS, New York NY
   24. Epiphany, New York NY
   25. Guardian Angel, New York NY
   26. Immaculate Conception, New York NY
   27. LaSalle Academy HS, New York NY
   28. Notre Dame, New York NY
   29. Our Lady of Pompeii, New York NY
   30. Sacred Heart of Jesus, New York NY
   31. St. Brigid, New York NY
   32. St. Ignatius Loyola, New York NY
   33. St. Jean Baptiste HS, New York NY
   34. St. Joseph–Yorkville, New York NY
   35. St. Stephen of Hungary, New York NY
   36. St. Vincent Ferrer HS, New York NY
   37. Transfiguration, New York NY
   38. Ascension, New York NY
   39. Blessed Sacrament, New York NY
   40. Corpus Christi, New York NY
   41. Good Shepherd, New York NY
   42. Incarnation, New York NY
   43. Mount Carmel/Holy Rosary, New York NY
   44. Our Lady of Lourdes, New York NY
   45. Our Lady Queen of Angels, New York NY
   46. Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, New York NY
   47. St. Ann, New York NY
   48. St. Charles Borromeo, New York NY
   49. St. Elizabeth, New York NY
   50. St. Mark the Evangelist, New York NY
   51. St. Paul, New York NY
   52. St. Rose of Lima, New York NY
   53. Holy Cross, Bronx NY
   54. Holy Family, Bronx NY
   55. Immaculate Conception, Bronx NY
   56. Monsignor Scanlan HS, Bronx NY
   57. Our Lady of the Assumption, Bronx NY
   58. St. Anselm, Bronx NY
   59. St. Athanasius, Bronx NY
   60. St. Benedict, Bronx NY
   61. St. Frances de Chantal, Bronx NY
   62. St. John Chrysostom, Bronx NY
   63. St. Luke, Bronx NY
   64. St. Theresa, Bronx NY
   65. St. Thomas Aquinas, Bronx NY
   66. Christ The King, Bronx NY
   67. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Bronx NY
   68. Our Lady of Refuge, Bronx NY
   69. Sacred Heart, Bronx NY
   70. St. Angela Merici, Bronx NY
   71. St. Brendan, Bronx NY
   72. St. Gabriel, Bronx NY
   73. St. John, Bronx NY
   74. St. Joseph, Bronx NY
   75. St. Margaret Mary, Bronx NY
   76. St. Margaret of Cortona, Bronx NY
   77. St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Bronx NY
   78. St. Philip Neri, Bronx NY
2. 79. Simon Stock, Bronx NY
   80. Holy Rosary, Bronx NY
   81. Immaculate Conception, Bronx NY
   82. Nativity of Our Blessed Lady, Bronx NY
   83. Our Lady of Grace, Bronx NY
   84. Santa Maria, Bronx NY
   85. Barnabas, Bronx NY
   86. Barnabas HS, Bronx NY
   87. Clare of Assisi, Bronx NY
   88. Francis of Assisi, Bronx NY
   89. Francis Xavier, Bronx NY
   90. Helena, Bronx NY
   91. Lucy, Bronx NY
   92. Raymond, Bronx NY
   93. Raymond Academy for Girls, Bronx NY
   94. Raymond High School for Boys, Bronx NY
   95. Philip and James, Bronx NY
   96. Annunciation, Crestwood NY
   97. Holy Name of Jesus, New Rochelle NY
   98. Immaculate Conception, Tuckahoe NY
   99. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Pelham Manor NY
   100. Our Lady of Victory, Mt. Vernon NY
   101. Sacred Heart, Yonkers NY
   102. Sacred Heart HS, Yonkers NY
   103. Ann, Yonkers NY
   104. Anthony, Yonkers NY
   105. Eugene, Yonkers NY
   106. John the Baptist, Yonkers NY
   107. Joseph, Bronxville NY
   108. Paul the Apostle, Yonkers NY
   109. Peter, Yonkers NY
   110. The John Cardinal O’Connor School, Irvington-on-Hudson NY
   111. Corpus Christi/Holy Rosary, Port Chester NY
   112. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scarsdale NY
   113. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Elmsford NY
   114. Our Lady of Sorrows, White Plains NY
   115. Resurrection, Rye NY
   116. Sacred Heart, Hartsdale NY
   117. Augustine, Ossining NY
   118. Columbanus, Cortlandt Manor NY
   119. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Shrub Oak NY
   120. Patrick, Bedford NY
   121. Patrick, Yorktown Heights NY
   122. John & Paul, Larchmont NY
   123. Transfiguration, Tarrytown NY
   124. Most Precious Blood, Walden NY
   125. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middletown NY
   126. Sacred Heart, Suffern NY
   127. Sacred Heart, Monroe NY
   128. Sacred Heart/St. Francis, Newburgh NY
   129. Anthony, Nanuet NY
   130. Gregory Barbarigo, Garnerville NY
   131. John S. Burke HS, Goshen NY
   132. John, Goshen NY
   133. Margaret, Pearl River NY
   134. Paul, Valley Cottage NY
   135. Stephen/St. Edward, Warwick NY
   136. Holy Trinity, Poughkeepsie NY
   137. Kingston Catholic, Kingston NY
   138. Denis/St. Columba, Hopewell Jct NY
   139. James the Apostle, Carmel NY
   140. Martin de Porres, Poughkeepsie NY
   141. Mary, Fishkill NY
   142. Mary, Wappingers Falls NY
   143. Peter, Poughkeepsie NY
   144. Peter’s Regional, Liberty NY

 

LIUNA Local 255, Lay Faculty Association

1. Cardinal Hayes HS, Bronx NY
2. Cathedral HS, Manhattan NY
3. Moore Catholic HS, Staten Island NY
4. Cardinal Spellman HS, Bronx NY
5. Archbishop Stepinac HS, White Plains NY
6. Maria Regina HS, Hartsdale NY

AFT

1. St. Dominic’s Home, Blauvelt NY

 

Diocese of Albany

AFT

1. Christian Brothers Academy, Albany NY
2. Lasalle Institute, Troy NY

 

 Diocese of Brooklyn

LIUNA Local 255, Lay Faculty Association

1. Bishop Loughlin HS, Brooklyn NY
2. Bishop Kearney, Brooklyn NY
3. Archbishop Molloy Brooklyn NY
4. St. Edmunds , Brooklyn NY
5. Nazareth Regional HS, Brooklyn NY

Diocese of Buffalo

NACST, Diocesan Elementary Schools Association

1. Catholic Academy of West Buffalo, Buffalo NY
2. Holy Family, Buffalo NY
3. St. Agatha, Buffalo NY
4. St. Agnes, Buffalo NY
5. St. Ambrose, Buffalo NY
6. St. Bernard, Buffalo NY
7. St. Mark, Buffalo NY
8. St. Martin, Buffalo NY
9. St. Thomas Aquinas, Buffalo NY
10. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Orchard Park NY
11. St. Bernadette, Orchard Park NY
12. St. Andrew, Kenmore NY
13. St. Paul, Kenmore NY
14. Queen of Heaven, West Seneca NY
15. St. Bonaventure, West Seneca NY
16. Our Mother of Good Counsel, Bladgell NY
17. St. Barnabas, Depew NY
18. St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville NY
19. St. Leo the Great, Eggertsville NY
20. St. Mary’s Swormville, E. Amherst NY

 

NACST, Secondary Lay Teachers Association

• Buffalo Diocesan Secondary Schools

 

Diocese of Rockville Centre

LIUNA Local 1261, Lay Faculty Association

1. Holy Trinity HS, Hicksville NY
2. Bishop McGann – Mercy High School, Riverhead NY
3. St. John the Baptist High School, West Islip NY
4. Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead NY

Diocese of Syracuse

AFT

1. Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse NY

Ohio

Diocese of Columbus

Central Ohio Association of Catholic Educators (COACE)

• Bishop Hartley HS
• Bishop Ready HS
• Bishop Watterson HS
• St Charles HS
• St Francis de Sales HS

Diocese of Cleveland

NACST, Cleveland High School and Academy Lay Teachers Association (CHALTA)

1. Lake Catholic HS
2. Cleveland Central Catholic HS
3. Villa Angela-St. Joseph HS
4. Holy Name HS
5. Elyria Catholic HS

 Diocese of Youngstown

Youngstown Confederation of Diocesan Teachers

1. St. Charles ES
2. Holy Family ES
3. St. Nicholas ES
4. St. Christine’s ES
5. St. Joseph-Immaculate Heart of Mary ES
6. St. Patrick in Hubbard ES
7. Cardinal Mooney HS
8. Central Catholic HS
9. John F. Kennedy Upper Campus HS
10. Thomas Aquinas HS
11. Ursuline HS

Pennsylvania

Archdiocese of Philadelphia

NACST Local 1776, Association of Catholic Teachers

1. Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast HS
2. Archbishop Carroll HS
3. Conwell-Egan HS
4. John W. Hallahan HS
5. Holy Cross HS
6. Saint Hubert HS
7. Father Judge HS
8. Lansdale Catholic HS
9. Little Flower HS
10. Bishop McDevitt HS
11. Saints John Neumann & Maria Goretti HS
12. Cardinal O’Hara HS
13. Pope John Paul II HS
14. Archbishop Prendergast HS
15. Roman Catholic HS
16. Archbishop Ryan HS
17. Bishop Shanahan HS
18. West Catholic HS
19. Archbishop Wood HS

 

Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown

NACST

1. Bishop Carroll HS, Edensburg PA
2. Bishop Guilfoyle HS, Altoona PA
3. Bishop McCort HS, Johnstown PA

 

Diocese of Greensburg

NACST

1. Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior HS, Connellsville PA
2. Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior HS, Greensburg PA

 

Diocese of Pittsburgh

NACST, Federation of Pittsburgh Diocesan Teachers (FPDT)

1. Bishop Canevin
2. Blessed Sacrament
3. Butler Catholic
4. Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic
5. Central Catholic
6. Christ The Divine Teacher Academy
7. East Catholic
8. Holy Trinity
9. John F. Kennedy
10. Oakland Catholic
11. Our Lady of Fatima
12. Our Lady of Grace
13. Quigley Catholic
14. Serra Catholic
15. Seton LaSalle
16. St. Agnes
17. St. Alexis
18. St. Alphonsus
19. St. Anthony
20. St. Bartholomew
21. St. Bernadette
22. St. Bernard
23. St. Bonaventure
24. St. Elizabeth
25. St. Gabriel
26. St. John Bosco
27. St. John The Baptist, Unity
28. St. Joseph
29. St. Louise De Marillac
30. St. Malachy
31. St. Maria Goretti
32. St. Mary
33. St. Patrick
34. St. Sebastian
35. St. Sylvester
36. St. Teresa
37. St. Therese
38. St. Thomas More
39. St. Vitus

 

IBT Local 26

1. School at McGuire Memorial, New Brighton PA