Priest explains social teachings of the church about work
– in 120 seconds or less
The Rev. John Rausch of the Diocese of Lexington is an animated speaker, perhaps because he said he only had about two minutes or less to make his point.
That point, however, hit home with Toyota workers attending a town hall forum. Rausch, the diocese’s peace and justice representative, said the rights of workers need to be respected.
“I wish we had management and shareholders here from Toyota,” he said.
His quick-paced presentation touched upon five church teachings about work and workers:
All work is divine activity.
Work is a partnership with God. “Every time you go to work you are a partner with God. Yes, you have to go earn your livelihood, but you work for self-fulfillment and to make a contribution.”
All profit is social: There are five stakeholders in corporations: workers, shareholders, management, vendors and the community: “Every one of us has a communal part of that profit. Everything together brings the profit.”
Workers have a right to a union. “Why? Because the power structure is imbalanced. The employer can do anything he wants.”
Workers have a right to a just wage, to decent work conditions, to health care, to retirement and to a Sabbath. “You’ve got to have a Sabbath. You’ve got to have some time off so you can really become a fully integrated person.”
Rausch finished his presentation more or less at the 120-second mark. He ended by saluting the workers who obviously have pride in their work, even if Toyota refers to them as a “cushion” or “variable” work force, as it does with its temporary workers.
“That pride comes because they see themselves in the image of God, and that’s exactly what every worker is,” Rausch said to cheers. “He’s not a cushion, he’s not a variable, he’s not a temp. He’s a brother and a sister.”