Montana labor news., 1937-09-23


Justice For All
Turning to the Bible for justifica
ton of applying the principles OF re-
ligion to modern industry, the Coun-
Gil said:
"On this Labor Sunday, dedicated
to a consideration of the meaning of
the Christian Gospel for our indus
trial life, we remind ourselves of the
spiritual insight of the prophets OF
Israel who saw that the God who
rules the universe is also the God Of
Justice in human affairs. God, as
revealed in the Bible, calls us to
share in His concern for justice for
all. AS jeremiah said of King Jo-
siah, He judged the aus of the
poor and needy; then it was well.
Was not this to know me? saith the
Lord
"On this day we remind ourselves
also of the compassion of Christ for
the poor and disinherited. That COM
passion, in a day when poverty was
inevitable, becomes for us in our
day, when poverty can be abolished,
a demand for justice in the distribu-
ton of the product of industry. From
the perspective of Christianity it is
intolerable that masses of men,
women and children should be de-
MED the opportunities which COM
Portable people regard as necessities.
God did not create wage-earners to
be mere instruments for the making
of money for others; the welfare of
all must be inherent in the end for
which all the processes of production
and distribution are carried on.
Religious Significance Of Labor
Relations
1t is becau3e of the conceAh of re-
ligion for justice and for social well
fare that church bodies have for
thirty years officially declared for
the right of employees as well as
employers to organize. Back of these
declarations has lain a conviction Of
the sacredness of human personality
and of the dignity of the common
man, which is born of the teaching
of Jesus that all men are children
of God.
Such a belief issues in a demand
for democracy, both in political and
industrial relations. This leads to
the organization of workers in order
that they may have a recognized
voice in determining the conditions
under which they live and work.
Experience has shown that since in
dustry is often organized on a ma
tional or even wider basis, labor
unions of corresponding scope ne
needed if workers are to be ade
quately represented in truly demo-
cratic relations, and if industry-wide
standards T to be maintained"
Trade Unions Increase Membership
Emphasizing the fact that many
industries in this country have been
organized over a long period of
years." and that lit has been dem
onstrated that it is possible for or
ganized employers and organized
employees to maintain generally
harmonious relations, and to adjust
their differences through joint con-
Citation without recourse to strikes
or lockouts during the terms Of their
contracts" the Council pointed out
that "the past year has been marked
by a significant advance in wider or
ganization of workers." and said 'the
decision of the Supreme Court vail
dating the National Labor Relations
Act marks a wider and more far
reaching recognition in law of labor's
right to organize and bargain collec-
lively"
Wages Are Still Too Low
as yet only a minority of Ameri-
can workers are organized" the
Council continued, "and it must be
recognized that annual wages of
many skilled workers are still below
a comfort level of living, while the
wages in many industries both urban
and agricultural are grossly made
quate for a decent standard of living
for an American family. Many mil
lions still can find no work. We are
convinced, therefore, that thoughtful
Christians will welcome the con-
temporary gains in status and eco
nomic welfare on the part of labor
as in line with the social ideals of
Christianity.
Glass Bias AffIicts Church Members
I'm the growing complexity Of So
ciety many of us have been so cut
off from the lives Of the industrial
workers that we are tempted to
think Of them not as neighbors, not
as persons whose welfare in this
world is as important in the sight Of