With its principle of supporting safe and empowering working conditions, the Fair Trade movement has a solid connection to Labor Day. And with all the concern for health care these days, as a Fair Trader I thought I would share–from the Labor Day statement of Most Reverend William F. Murphy, Bishop of Rockville Centre–news of recent progress respecting workers through health care.
“This year, after years of discussions, leaders in Catholic health ministry, the labor movement, and the Catholic bishops sought to apply our traditional teaching on work and workers and to offer some practical alternatives on how leaders of hospitals, unions, and others might apply our principles as an aid to reaching agreements in their own situations.
The principal participants— the Catholic Health Association (CHA), the AFL/CIO, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)—reached agreement that offers guidance and options on how workers can make a free decision about whether or not they want to be represented by a union. They agreed on basic principles including mutual respect and open and honest communication as ‘guides’ to appropriate conduct for both employers and union representatives. This paves the way for workers to make informed decisions without undue influence or pressure from either side. The basic elements of such an approach include mutual respect, truth, and a commitment to let the workers decide whether or not they want to be represented by a union. This was not easy or simple. There were many different points of view and perspectives that at times seemed irreconcilable. The dialogue was long, candid and constructive. It led to a significant consensus statement entitled, Respecting the Just Rights of Workers: Guidance and Options for Catholic Health Care and Unions.”
With all the concerns about the tenor of health care reform debate, it is encouraging to see progress can be made. As the Bishop said, the success was not easy or simple. But consensus was possible because of Fair Trade values such as dialogue, transparent and respect. Let us hope on Labor Day and every day those values prevail.
