Catholic teachers union urges sick-out

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--catholicteachers0110jan10,0,3993265.story

NEW YORK - The union representing Roman Catholic school teachers of the Archdiocese of New York is asking its members to call in sick to protest their expired contract.

Lay Faculty Association business manager Henry Kielkucki has released a statement that the "sickout" is proceeding against ten schools run by the archdiocese. The union represents about 430 teachers. They have been without a contract since Aug. 31.

The Archdiocese of New York did not immediately know how many teachers had called in sick.

Archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling says all the "sickout" will serve to do is disrupt students' day and cost teachers a day's wages.

The union represents teachers at schools in Goshen, Poughkeepsie, Hartsdale, White Plains and Somers.