Faith asks justice for workers

By Bill Peltz
First published: Saturday, August 30, 2008
"Voices of Faith" Times Union, Albany, NY

The last holiday of summer? A commemoration of a vaguely understood history of American labor? Recognition of the right of workers to bargain for better pay and working conditions? Celebrating unions' role in achieving the eight-hour workday, the 40-hour week and the end of child labor in our factories? Labor Day is all of the above -- plus an affirmation of our faith commitment to equity and justice in wealth and work that is deeply rooted in our sacred Scriptures.

The Torah includes mandates for worker justice, including, "You shall not withhold the wages of the poor and needy laborers."

The New Testament contains admonitions such as "The wages of laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out."

The Quran reminds the community of Islam about its duty to "Give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their due."

Our Scriptures agree in insisting that the employer-worker relationship must be based on justice and mutual consent. But in a society and global economy so vastly different from those described in the world's great Scriptures, we must grapple with the definition of justice as it applies to the world of work.

Labor Day offers congregations an opportunity to reflect on past and present practices and to think about how our shared values might be more fully expressed in our economic life.

The point of convergence of our faith commitments and the best values of the labor movement is where the Labor-Religion Coalition of the Capital District focuses on the struggles of low-wage workers for justice. To mark Labor Day every year, the coalition picks one issue as its advocacy focus for Labor Day for its Labor in the Pulpits/on the Bimah/in the Minbar program.

This year, it's the proposed Employee Free Choice Act, which is aimed at removing what organized labor sees as obstacles to union organizing that have developed during recent decades.

Naturally, it's a contentious issue. Business groups attack the bill for doing away with the secret ballot for workers' votes on union recognition. Labor groups support it as a way to repair what they consider to be employer domination of the broken ballot process. Adult study groups and peace and justice committees are good forums to debate the pros and cons of the legislation. Those who agree with it might want to sign a postcard of support as part of the national coalition's campaign.

For this Monday and for all of September as an extended Labor Month, we ask you to pray for working people, especially low-wage earners and those who are exploited, both at home and abroad. Ask questions about how workers are treated. Speak up in support of working people who are seeking respect and a voice in their work.

Contact the coalition's coordinator, Marjorie DeVoe, at 482-5595 or lrcofcd@gmail.com for a speaker and information on the Employee Free Choice Act. We'll be distributing and collecting the postcards for the rest of the year to give to the new president in January.

Last Updated: 09/03/2008
© Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State