Before there was a teachers’ union in the Columbus Diocese teachers had to negotiate their own individual contracts with their Principal or Pastor.  At the high school level, the Principal would often pay select coaches a higher salary than other coaches and/or teachers.  At the elementary school level, backed by the rationale that men were the heads of the household and women worked just to supplement their husband’s salary, many women teachers were paid a lower salary than men teachers.  If you drove a nice car it was assumed that you didn’t need the money so you were paid less.  There was no standard benefits package.  What each teacher’s benefits were could depend upon the wealth of the parish and/or the teacher’s status in their family as primary or secondary wage earner. Sick leave for those who had it was generally 10 days a year and was non-accumulative. There was no grievance procedure.  There were other inequalities and injustices.

In the 1960’s a group of high school teachers and coaches, primarily from Bishop Hartley and Bishop Watterson, took the leadership role in forming a teacher’s Association.  After a series of meetings this core group went to Bishop Elwell who agreed that collective bargaining was a right of the teachers. It was agreed that if the group could demonstrate that they had sufficient representation of the teachers, they could then be the bargaining agent for the teachers in negotiations with the Diocese.   There was a strong support for the establishment of a teachers union because of the injustices that were being brought upon the teachers.   The teacher’s Association was formed in 1968.

In the beginning the high school teachers and the elementary school teachers had their own separate associations.  By the mid 1970’s the two associations combined into one bargaining unit and from that point they negotiated as a single, more powerful unit. It then represented all fulltime teachers of the schools of the Franklin County Vicariates with the exclusion of London, St. Patrick.  In 1982 the union was incorporated under the name of Columbus Diocesan Education Association (CDEA)

Until the early 1990’s the negotiations followed the traditional model of bargaining.  This process involved many long meetings over several months involving multiple offers and counter offers.  It was a long and laborious process spanning sometimes six to eight months that many times was emotionally painful for the negotiators and the members at large.  In the early 80’s the negotiations went to impasse and arbitration in two instances. 

In spite of this during these formative years many areas saw improvements. A uniform salary scale was established and increases in pay were negotiated. In the ‘80s pay for some Extra Duty Assignments in the high school began.   Standardized written individual contracts were created. Benefits and leave policies also became standardized and coverage steadily improved. A grievance procedure was developed that created a more professional and equitable means to handle problems and concerns. Teachers were guaranteed a specific amount of planning time.   Strides were made in tuition assistance for children of teachers.  A program was developed to provide partial reimbursements for courses taken by teachers. 

With each negotiations the team and the process became more refined and professional in nature. As the need became apparent C.D.E.A. hired a lawyer, Bob Sauter, to help with the negotiations and the legal ramifications of a growing teachers’ union.   The Master Agreement continued to improve.  The role of the Building Representative from the beginning has been a vital one, members working for members.

With the negotiations of 1994 the Association and the Diocese agreed to utilize a different model.  It revolved around the concept of Interest Based Concentrated Bargaining.  The bulk of the negotiations was completed during a weekend retreat. It emphasized a cooperative atmosphere rather than the traditional adversarial approach. This approach required greater advance preparation but did accelerate the actual negotiations process. In subsequent negotiations the model was refined and adjusted to meet the unique needs of the joint negotiating committee.  There is a significant level of trust that is essential for such a process to be successful.  That trust level has grown as experience with the process has. 

In the 90’s C.D.E.A. leadership led a movement towards a more global outlook for the Association.  They attended the convention of a national Catholic teachers’ association and came away with a sense that there was much to gain from networking with other unions from around the U.S. and with a national organization. In 1996 CDEA members approved the affiliation with the National Association of Catholic School Teachers (N.A.C.S.T.).  With this action the union gained the expertise, financial and legal support of an organization committed to promoting the welfare and rights of Catholic schoolteachers. 

In 1997 the name change of the name of the Association to Central Ohio Association of Catholic Educators (COACE) reflected what was happening in the membership.  For in the same time frame St. Mary’s in Lancaster, a school from outside the Franklin County Vicariates, affiliated with COACE.   In 2000 another school from outside the area voted to affiliate.  COACE has lent its support as these schools formed their own organizations.

The leadership of COACE takes an active role in NACST organization with the President of COACE serving on the National’s Executive Committee.  It is through N.A.C.S.T.’s support that in the 2000 – 2001 school year the COACE President was released daily on a part time basis from his regular teaching position in order to conduct COACE business.  NACST has also assisted with training sessions for the more recent Negotiations Committees.

As one looks back at the history of this Association one is struck with how far we have come.  In a letter to C.D.E.A in 1987 from Dr. Carolyn Jurkowitz, then departing acting superintendent of schools of the Columbus Diocese she stated that

“The C.D.E.A. is one of the greatest strengths of the Diocese of Columbus.  I wish you well in convincing other teachers of that.  It’s critically important to individual teachers (first), the principle of justice, to professionalism and to the quality of Catholic schooling that C.D.E.A. remain viable”.

We are thankful to those who came before us who were convinced of the importance of the Association.  With over 30 years of history COACE looks to the future with the commitment to follow the Association’s tradition of  “Teachers working for teachers”.    It is to the fulltime teachers’ advantage — be they the 500 + elementary school teachers or the 200 + high school teachers — to have COACE be the unified voice for all.

Members may differ in the curriculum they teach; in the methodology they employ; in their experience level but ...they remain ...Catholic school teachers of the Diocese of Columbus.  They remain ...teachers united to protect the rights of all their fellow teachers.