Posted on 02/26/2011 11:34:30 AM PST by Mrs. Don-o
Statement Regarding the Rights of Workers and the Value of Unions
Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki, archbishop of Milwaukee and president of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, has issued the following statement regarding the rights of workers and the value of unions.
February 16, 2011
The Church is well aware that difficult economic times call for hard choices and financial responsibility to further the common good. Our own dioceses and parishes have not been immune to the effects of the current economic difficulties. But hard times do not nullify the moral obligation each of us has to respect the legitimate rights of workers. As Pope Benedict wrote in his 2009 encyclical, Caritas in veritate:
Governments, for reasons of economic utility, often limit the freedom or the negotiating capacity of labor unions. Hence traditional networks of solidarity have more and more obstacles to overcome. The repeated calls issued within the Church’s social doctrine, beginning with Rerum Novarum [60], for the promotion of workers’ associations that can defend their rights must therefore be honored today even more than in the past, as a prompt and far-sighted response to the urgent need for new forms of cooperation at the international level, as well as the local level. [#25]
It does not follow from this that every claim made by workers or their representatives is valid. Every union, like every other economic actor, is called to work for the common good, to make sacrifices when required, and to adjust to new economic realities.
However, it is equally a mistake to marginalize or dismiss unions as impediments to economic growth. As Pope John Paul II wrote in 1981, “[a] union remains a constructive factor of social order and solidarity, and it is impossible to ignore it.” (Laborem exercens #20, emphasis in original)
It is especially in times of crisis that “new forms of cooperation” and open communication become essential. We request that lawmakers carefully consider the implications of this proposal and evaluate it in terms of its impact on the common good. We also appeal to everyone –lawmakers, citizens, workers, and labor unions – to move beyond divisive words and actions and work together, so that Wisconsin can recover in a humane way from the current fiscal crisis.
I would suggest a stronger statement on the abuse of the system by the unions that hurt the worker and the taxpayer.
Unions have abused their power in demanding benefits and controlling participation through their own insurance company without competitive bidding and have wasted at least a half billion dollars over last 10 years.
They also abuse work rules and encourage illegal strikes.
Workers shouldn’t be forced to join the union or pay union dues.
Should the Catholic Church stand for true justice and truth or just issue a watered down position paper that doesn’t really address the issues? Is it divisive when one speaks the truth?
The deal Wisconsin made with its state employees was simple: Accept lower wages than you could get in the private sector now. . . a fact not in evidence . . .
in return for better pensions and health-care benefits when you retire. Now Walker wants to renege on that deal.I don't think private schools pay as well as public schools do. In fact, I was shocked to learn that a middle school history teacher was making significantly more than I as an engineer was making. And he retired young, so I take it that his pension benefits must have been OK as well.Now I had the impression that he was quite good at his job, and that's OK - but don't tell me that he was making a huge sacrifice taking that P.S. teaching gig. This was NY State, not Wisconsin - but I question whether there was all that much difference, given what we're hearing about WI. The purpose of the union is to make sure that the teachers - good, bad, and indifferent - all get well paid. Well, sorry - you can make sacrifices and do good for the children, or you can do well - but you can't have your cake and eat it too.
Thank you, that was very interesting. Crazy people out there. I’m glad I rarely leave home.
Well, Walmart on Friday night ... teenage Russian girls arguing over the clearance racks, vaqueros Latinos looking rather guapos, tattoo’d rednecks with lots of little kids, and an astonishing array of people buying large amounts of beer.
Well, I’m taken by what Shoeless Joe says, in Field of Dreams.
“I’d have played for food money. Shoot, I’d play for nothing!”
What is a teacher worth? Everything... and nothing. How do you compensate someone who exchanges enlightenment? You can’t, not really. You can only pay them money. And the good ones find a way to get by without it.
>> We have to pray harder just so much is happening at once within a short period of time
And perhaps faster.
I never entered into a vocation where I was promised anything - my preference. I’m short of paying bills with my blood. My health insurance costs $20k/year.
>> So America’s various governmental entities are looking for ways to avoid defaulting on their debt
Contrary to the prevailing whim here on FR, we should raise the debt ceiling if to avoid the risk of default with the understanding the expansion would be contracted ASAP.
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