Catholic teachers in Philly vote to strike

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Catholic school teachers in the Philadelphia area have rejected a contract offer and are set to go on strike.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports lay instructors at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s 17 high schools voted 589-60 on today to walk off the job after rejecting the diocese’s most recent proposal. Classes are scheduled to begin Wednesday.

The contract, which affects 711 lay teachers, does not involve elementary schools in the five-county archdiocese. The diocese said Monday it expected classes to go on no matter what happened with the vote.

Union president Rita Schwartz tells the newspaper she hopes teachers can return to the classroom soon.

A statement from the diocese from earlier today says the union broke off negotiations.