The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-11-21
JOSEPH BREIC-
RTW In Ohio
Lesson For All

Catholics everywhere, / think, will be interested
In what. happened in Ohio in connection with an at
tempt to pass a so-called right to work (RTW) law
in the form of an amendment to the state %constitu-
ton.
CThe amendment was overwhelmingly defeated by
the voters)
union. Anything concerned with acknowledgement
relations and the welfare of employers and work
ers, therefore, is of prime Importance.
This being so, Ohios six bishops made a care
full study of the proposed amendment, and con-
Guided that the matter was SO vital that they ought
to take a public stand on it. Unanimously, they
urged defeat of the RTW proposal.
The bishops characterized the amendment as in
ept and mischievous. They said that much progress
had been made in labor-management relations, and
it would be socially undesirable to precipitate new
causes of strife and i'll will"
AT THIS POINT let us pause to make certain
that we understand what a RTW law is.
When a labor union is elected by a majority Of
workers to represent the employees, the union does
not defend the rights merely OF its members.
If the union obtains an increase in wages or an
improvement in working conditions, everybody
shares in the gains. Because of this fact, unions hold
that all who benefit should bear their share of the
cost of representation.
Unions therefore request management to agree
to what is called the union shop arrangement.
Under this plan, management is free to hire
anybody it pleases. The person hired is required TO
pay union dues.
A RTW law forbids this arrangement. 1t outlaws
the union shop.
.e-M TIE 0ISHOFS OF OHlO, II LH0lT JUlHI Stdt6H6uL,
gave careful guidance to their people.
They explained that although man has a right
and duty to work for his livelihood, it does not fol-
low that a man has the unconditional right to work
in any and every industry or business at will.
For reasons of social justice" they said, ut may
be desirable and often advantageous to the common
good that mans right be restricted by certain speci-
fled conditions. One of these imposed conditions may
require that he share responsibility with his fell
low workmen in support of the union"
The bishops further said that government inter
vention in such matters is unwlse If not unjust"
THERE ARE ABUSES that creep into the la
Dor movement, the six bishops said, but right to
work laws are not the proper means to correct
them"
The bishops then outlined the duties of labor
and management, remarked that there have been
some evils on both sides, and urged honest examlna-
ton of consciences all around.
The bishops concluded with a warning that a
RTW law would not solve our problems, but might
lead to a more intensified struggle for domination
and thus postpone an era OF peaceful cooperation.
Thus the bishops made clear the seriousness
with which they reviewed RTW as a danger to the
MILLIONS WERE SPENT in Ohio in the effort
to pass RTW. Voters were confused by floods of
paid propaganda
ever, is the fact that RTW forces did not hesitate to
resort to public derogation OF the bishops.
They issued propaganda designed to persuade
Catholics that the bishops did not know what they
were talking about, and furthermore did not under
stand Catholic theology, philosophy and social doc
trine.
Statements issued years even centuries be-
fore RTW was ever conceived were ripped from con-
text to make it appear, falsely, that the bishops were
going against the teaching of Popes Leo XIII and
Plus XII, plus St. Thomas Aquinas.
Thus Ohio Catholics saw the spectacle of RTW
propagandists lecturing six bishops about Catholic
social doctrine. 1t would be difficult to imagine a
worse instance of importance and atroclously bad
manners. | suggest that Catholics remember this in
case some similar situation should confront them in
the future.