CTU History

In 1984 the first teachers’ union recognized by the Diocese of Camden was formed. It was called the Secondary Contracted Teachers Organization. The SCTO took over from a Lay Faculty Council which negotiated salaries and benefits with the Diocesan schools since the mid-60’s.
In the 1984-1985 school year, the newly formed union started negotiations for a full contract to cover all employment aspects including working conditions, due process, etc. following diocesan recognition of SCTO as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for the schools’ lay faculty. When negotiations failed to bring about a contract, lay teachers staged a work stoppage in the first semester and then a two week strike in the second semester of that school year. The strike resulted in the first negotiated contract between the teachers’ union and the diocese.
SCTO negotiators successfully reached an agreement with the diocese in three subsequent contracts (1987, 1990, 1991).
In 1989 Special Education teachers in the diocese were brought into the union. The teachers work in high schools already covered by the union as well as some diocesan elementary schools.
In 1993, union officers met with diocesan elementary school teachers who desired to organize. Union officers then met with diocesan officials and determined that the diocese was trying to deny elementary school teachers their labor rights.
In August 1994, the union filed a lawsuit against the diocese to enforce New Jersey’s constitutional provisions for collective bargaining on behalf of the elementary school teachers.
In 1994, SCTO secondary school/Special Education negotiations broke down in late summer and the teachers staged a one-week strike. The strike ended after the teachers met with the diocesan bishop and a fifth contract was ratified.
From December 1994 through February 1996 the elementary lawsuit progressed through hearings at the Superior Court and Appellate Court levels.
On July 24, 1997 the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the elementary school teachers had labor rights guaranteed by the state constitution and ordered the Superior Court to oversee representational elections in certain diocesan elementary schools. SCTO was elected as the collective bargaining agent for four diocesan elementary schools.
In 1997, SCTO members again staged a strike when secondary school/Special Education negotiations broke down. Following the strike, the sixth contract with the Camden diocese was signed. Secondary school and Special Education teachers are currently working under that contract until August 2002.
Throughout 1998 and 1999 elementary school negotiations continued, without reaching a contract agreement.
In 1999, the union changed its name to the Catholic Teachers Union – NJ.