The Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese opposes a bill in the state Legislature that would give teachers in Catholic schools more rights under state labor laws.

Superintendent of Schools Robert Paserba said the diocese believes government oversight of its school system is unnecessary.

If passed, House Bill 2626 would change the definition of "employee" under current labor law to include lay teachers in religious schools. State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, introduced the bill June 11.

The change would force dioceses to recognize and bargain collectively with teachers unions. It also would allow unions in religious schools to bring grievances to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.

State Supreme Court rulings have held that lay teachers are not covered under the law.

Dr. Paserba said Pittsburgh agrees with the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, which represents the bishops of the state's eight Catholic dioceses.

"The PCC routinely opposes oversight, particularly where we can operate pretty well on our own," he said. "We will support the PCC in opposition to further oversight from the [labor relations board]."

PCC spokeswoman Amy Hill said the group does not yet have an official position on the bill and that the PCC will solicit input from bishops before it drafts a formal criticism.

Dr. Paserba said the diocese is on great terms with its teachers union, the Federation of Pittsburgh Diocesan Teachers.

"Since the 1970s, this diocese has recognized the rights of its teachers to form a federation," he said. "It is an extremely amicable, good-willed, cooperative working relationship, and we want to maintain that."

Though they aren't protected under the law, dioceses often choose to work with teachers unions because Catholic philosophy supports workers' rights and organized labor, Dr. Paserba said.

He noted the recent contract negotiations for high school and elementary school teachers as proof that the diocese and the union work well together. The last time teachers went on strike was in 1985.

But things aren't so rosy in other Pennsylvania dioceses.

Earlier this year, the Diocese of Scranton refused to bargain collectively with the teachers union there, according to Rita Schwartz, president of the National Association of Catholic School Teachers, based in Philadelphia.

Ms. Schwartz said the origins of the current bill can be traced to the Scranton dispute, but such legislation would be a good thing for teachers statewide.

"The process started with the Scranton teachers. They spoke with Rep. Pashinski because he's from their area," she said. "The problem is that you're one bishop away from the same thing happening to you. It's unfortunate that we have to seek justice outside of our own church, but we do."

The Diocese of Scranton released a statement June 13 in which it criticized the bill for taking a local dispute and making it a statewide issue.

The statement also said the bill would violate the separation of church and state and that it undercuts the mission of the Catholic church education system.

Mr. Pashinski said the bill is meant to update an antiquated portion of the law that was written in a time when most Catholic school teachers were members of religious orders or the priesthood.

Now, the majority of teachers are lay people.

"This is just to include the lay teacher in the right to accept to choose a union as a representative or not to choose a union," he said. "It has absolutely nothing to do with the religious doctrine and it has absolutely nothing to do with the ministry.

"Some think, unfortunately incorrectly, that this law will impose upon the Catholic doctrine -- that now the Catholic school teachers will expect to make the same as public school teachers. That is not the case," Mr. Pashinski said.

The bill is before the House Labor Relations Committee, but Mr. Pashinski said he plans to hold hearings in Harrisburg and possibly Pittsburgh and Philadelphia before moving the bill forward.

Ten legislators from southwestern Pennsylvania have signed on as co-sponsors.