By Sam Wroblewski 630wpro.com

The Cranston Teachers’ Alliance is suing the city for allegedly denying teachers’ request for time off to observe Good Friday.

The group says the Cranston School Committee opted to keep schools open during religious holidays in 2015; however a collective bargaining agreement allows teachers to take two religious observance days per year.

According to the union, when several teachers requested religious leave for Good Friday, the school department denied their requests. The Teachers Alliance says teachers who put in for religious leave for Jewish Holy Days were approved.

The teachers’ union is claiming a breach of contract and religious discrimination.

“I wish they had not opened school on the Jewish Holy days and Good Friday,” said Cranston Teachers’ Alliance President Lizbeth Larkin in a statement, “But since they made that decision, they should not be telling Christians of all denominations that Good Friday is not important enough to merit a religious leave day.”

The Cranston School Department confirmed the lawsuit but offered no comment.