| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 30, 2002 |
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Labor in the Pulpit 2002 As part of Labor in the Pulpit 2002---a joint program of the labor movement and the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice to bring Labor Day weekend discussions of worker concerns into churches, synagogues and mosques---a United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) leader citing a century of Catholic social teaching on the right of workers to living wages, fair treatment, and representation called for action to counteract the impact of the growing number of low wage/no benefit employers. Traditional sources of high wage jobs such as steel, auto and other manufacturing industries continue to shrink while low wage service sector employers, such as Wal-Mart, have become primary sources of employment. These emerging jobs and employers, in stark contrast to the tenets of Church teaching, generally do not provide wages or benefits that can support families and do not recognize the right of association for workers. Bringing the hope and the force of Church social teaching to 21st workers and workplaces can create a new generation of jobs to provide dignity and economic security for working families. "The social teachings of the Church---as proclaimed by Pope Leo XIII in 1891 to Pope John Paul II in 1991---call us to the witness of action---to stand up, step forward and create workplace justice. The jobs and employers of the 21st century often pay only poverty-level wages, provide few benefits and offer no security for the family or the future. To meet the challenge of the 21stcentury, we must affirm our commitment to Church's social teachings and put our faith into action," said UFCW Executive Vice President Mike Leonard. Full text of remarks by Mike Leonard, United Food And Commercial Workers International Union, International Executive Vice President, Labor in the Pulpit, 2002: I am Mike Leonard. I am a person of faith. I am a person of labor. And I serve as International Executive Vice President of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union---the UFCW. Most importantly, I am a person of hope. Hope is the virtue that leads to action. Hope is the belief that by putting our faith into action we can create justice. Labor Day is the time to speak of hope. Because Labor Day was not inaugurated as a day of rest-- -but, as a day of action. A day to bring working families, and all people of goodwill, together in the effort to create justice in the workplace. Labor Day began an as an expression of hope---and, that expression of hope changed the world. Over a century ago, what was called the "labor question" dominated public debate. New mass production industries in steel, auto, rubber and equipment employed thousands of workers at low pay, with poor conditions--and, with no provision for their health or retirement. The Church answered the question of the times with faith, force and clarity. In Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII declared that no one "may outrage the dignity of workers...whom God treats with reverence." He laid out the basis of Catholic social teaching---wages that could support a family--- rest from work---and, worker associations that could provide for the needs of workers in "sickness, old age and distress." He condemned the use of "necessity or fear" to force workers "to accept harder conditions." People of faith and goodwill---through struggle and sacrifice---and, the strength and support of their Church---turned the principles laid out in Rerum Novarum into reality. Working families got weekends, paid vacations, unemployment insurance, decent wages, health care and pensions. Labor Day 2002, however, presents us with a new and growing challenge to the teachings of the church. The workings of basic social justice are threatened and, the accomplishments of the past century are at risk. The new jobs and new employers of the 21st century often do not pay wages that can keep a family out of poverty. More than 40 million workers and their families have no health insurance and, pension plans with guaranteed benefits have virtually disappeared. The nation's largest employer---is not an auto or steel or even a communications company. Today's largest employer---and, it is 3 times larger than any other private employer---is a discount retailer. One of the largest single sources of all new jobs will be retail stores---and, the occupation that will be one the largest single sources of jobs is--- "cashier." These jobs define, in large part, the condition of working families today. Much of today's poverty is not a result of laziness, or lack of a job, or lack of productivity---but, of low wages. Much of today's illness, particularly among children, comes not as the result of some incurable disease, but because of the failure of some employers---even the largest and most profitable---to provide affordable health benefits. Much of today's economic insecurity comes not from the ups and downs of the economy---but, from unrestrained human greed. We must return to the social teachings of the Church. Little more than a decade ago, Pope John Paul II affirmed the message of Rerum Novarum---and, called again for dignity, respect and economic security for workers. His Holiness told us that we could not sit passively or comfortably with the Church's social teachings. He quoted Christ's words "as you did to one of the least of my brethren, you did to me" and, said that those words were "not intended to remain a pious wish, but were meant to become a concrete life commitment." He called upon people of faith to engage in the "witness of action"---to stand up, step forward and to create justice for the new era. Together, we must do the work that will bring--living wages- -affordable health benefits--secure pensions--safe conditions--and, a voice on the job. This Labor Day is a day hope. We face tremendous challenges---but with the strength and support of the Church's social teachings, we can put our faith into action and take justice to work. The 1.4 million member United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is America's neighborhood union representing workers in neighborhood grocery stores across the country. UFCW puts dinner on the table for America's families with members working in meatpacking and food processing. UFCW gives a voice to care with representation for nurses, medical technicians and nursing home workers. |
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