Union chief quotes Catholic Social Teaching

Frances O'Grady

The deputy general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Frances O'Grady, has quoted Catholic Social Teaching in support of a plea to unite against the injustice of the present economic situation.

Ms O'Grady, who will address the National Justice and Peace Network conference later this month, quoted Catholic Social Teaching in defence of the dignity of work and the right of the worker to belong to a trade union in an press statement released on Monday.

“We share a belief that every human being has the right to live in peace, dignity and freedom; that we all have a right to food, shelter, healthcare and education; and that we also have a right to work that is fulfilling, that contributes to the wider collective good, that allows us to provide for our families and that is fairly rewarded," she said. "Catholic teaching recognises that the relationship between an employer and a worker is a fundamentally unequal one and that therefore unions have an important role at work and in society, building solidarity and providing a voice for working people.:

The TUC deputy general secretary told how every day she meets workers frightened for themselves and their families. "We now live in an increasingly globalised economy where decisions that will directly impact of the lives of working people, for example, in Birmingham are more likely to be taken in Berlin or Beijing. Our working lives have become more fragmented – insecure contracts, longer hours and ever more complicated shifts. Parents are worried that they cannot afford to support their children to go to university and that their job prospects are bleak," said Ms O'Grady.

"Across the world, the trade union movement is struggling for justice for ordinary working people. In Burma, we’re tackling the repressive military regime and fighting against forced labour and child labour. In Colombia, we’re resisting state-sponsored paramilitaries responsible for the deaths and disappearances of thousands of political opponents, including trade unionists. In Guatemala, we’re defending the rights of agricultural workers against a vicious onslaught by the rich and powerful. And in Zimbabwe, we’ve worked to support our brothers and sisters for dignity and democratic change.”

Responding to a question at a press conference on 6 April, the Archbishop of Westminster Most Rev Vincent Nichols indicated that he would welcome an approach from the trade union movement ,regarding the Church's discourse over its new commitment to social responsibility.