Archdiocese, union reach tentative pact for high school teachers

Roman Catholic High School in Center City.
Beyond My Ken/via Wikipedia

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has reached a tentative agreement with the union representing teachers at its 17 high schools, the two parties announced Friday afternoon.

The new agreement, which would be effective Sept. 1, 2015, must be ratified by the membership of Local 1776 of the Association of Catholic Teachers. A vote by the 635 secondary school lay teachers is expected to take place before the end of the month.

Details on the agreement will not be released until the membership votes on the agreement, the archdiocese and union said. The teachers' current one-year contract expires Aug. 31.

The teachers voted in late May to reject a one-year contract offer by the archdiocese with a pay hike they deemed insufficient to cover an increase in medical insurance premiums.