Teachers: Expect strike during pope visit

NEW YORK Lay Faculty Association spokesman Henry Kielkucki says the union made no progress in contract negotiations Thursday with the Archdiocese of New York. A spokesman for the archdiocese did not immediately return telephone messages left at his office and home Thursday night.

Kielkucki declined to specify when a strike might start. But he said it would likely extend into the pope's visit, scheduled for April 18 to 20.

The union represents about 450 teachers at a total of 10 schools in the city and northern suburbs. The teachers' contract expired in

The union and archdiocese have been at odds over wages, health care and pensions.