Philly Catholic school teachers end strike

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Students at Roman Catholic high schools in the Philadelphia area will be returning to class now that a teachers strike has ended.

Lay teachers voted today to approve a new contract with the archdiocese.

The deal means 17 Catholic high schools in the Philadelphia area will reopen Tuesday after being closed for four days.

More than 700 teachers went on strike Sept. 6, citing issues including sick leave and the use of part-time instructors. Administrators said the teachers were resisting attempts to modernize the schools.

Classes were held during the first days of the strike, with about 16,500 students attending orientation activities. But the archdiocese canceled school starting last Wednesday as the work stoppage continued.

Details of the contract have not yet been released.