Representatives for Catholic School Employee
Councils Attend Orientation
 

Representatives from Diocesan Catholic schools chosen by their peers to serve on the new Employee Councils attended an orientation session on Feb. 8 at the Clarion Hotel in Scranton.

The orientation was presented by Diocesan officials as well as representatives from Parente/HR Services, a human resource consulting firm that is being retained to specifically deal with the area of compensation; and Elite Brokerage Services, Inc., a company that will serve as a neutral expert to assist all parties in achieving established health care goals and objectives.

Faculty and support staff representatives from the schools were selected by their peers to serve on the Employee Councils in the Holy Cross, Holy Redeemer, and St. John Neumann Systems. The Notre Dame Board’s review of the employee relations program is pending.

The majority of the schools were represented at the meeting, according to Joseph Casciano, Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education and Superintendent of Schools, and James Burke, Diocesan director of human resources.

They characterized the meeting as a productive first step toward the implementation of the employee relations program that will cover all employees in the schools.

Mr. Casciano and Mr. Burke noted that the schools that chose members to serve on the Employee Councils will have representation and a voice in future discussions about wages, benefits and grievances. The institutions that chose not to participate are still welcome to do so.

The Employee Councils will include Wage and Benefit Committees, Health Care Sub-Committees and Grievance Committees.

These groups will meet on a regular basis with members of the Regional System Boards, officials from the Diocesan Catholic Schools Office and the Diocesan human resources director to discuss wages, benefits, and grievances.

The employee relations program will bring a consistent format to the entire school system. It will cover teachers as well as aides, administrators, office staff, food service and maintenance personnel. Employees at all schools will be able to provide input through their representatives on the Employee Councils and the various committees for wages and benefits, health care, and grievances.

The program also will ensure that a strong Catholic identity is maintained in the schools within an atmosphere of meaningful dialogue and sincere collaboration.

This program fulfills the Diocese of Scranton’s commitment to fair and just treatment of all of its employees. The provision of affordable Catholic education continues to be the Diocesan goal in which all are called to cooperate.