Public employee labor unions have recently been in front of the public eye, with the situation in Madison, Wisconsin playing out in the news, and the criticisms of teachers unions addressed in the movie, "Waiting for Superman." With that in mind, the US bishops recently talked about labor unions. In their statement, they reiterated the Church's long-standing support for the rights of workers to organize, which the Church has always taught to be a basic human right.
In addition, the bishops also pointed out that the current financial difficulties faced by governments across the country defy easy-fix solutions. Thus, they call on governments and workers to word together for the common good. They also called on the members of unions to make sacrifices in order to adjust to the new economic realities.
For the complete story, go to www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1100999.htm.
Copyright © 2011, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
