Union leaders seek religious help for labor cause

[rug]

Union leaders across the Chicago area fanned out to churches, mosques and synagogues this weekend to argue that organized labor’s cause is on the side of God.

In the modest cinder block confines of St. Agatha Catholic Church in Chicago’s Lawndale neighborhood, James Thindwa of the Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers & Staff asked parishioners to thank unions for such amenities as weekends and the eight-hour workday.

As heads nodded from the rows of plastic chairs, he derided executives for taking “ungodly” raises while subjecting workers to layoffs and benefit cuts.

“They’re laying off workers. They’re getting bailed out. It’s not a just situation,” Thindwa said.

http://www.wgnradio.com/news/local/breaking/chi-union-leaders-seek-religious-help-for-labor-cause-20110904,0,3716187.story?track=rss

[cleanhippie]

1. Well this I disagree with. Just what IS the "side of god"?

In order to defend this position, one must offer up the No True Scotsman fallacy, and I think we all know what a fallacy that is.

Unrec for pandering. (no, not you, rug. I know you would never pander :))

[NMMNG]

3. The "side of god"

is whatever the individual believer interprets/believes it to be.


"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires."
— Susan B. Anthony

[rug]

5. I think that phrase was the writer's alone.

Sort of overshadows the real story.

And to paraphrase FDR, I welcome your unrecs.

[cleanhippie]

12. Well, if its any consolation, it wasn't an unrec because of you.

It was solely because of the false premise in the story.

[madrchsod]

2. organization 101...it`s time to go back to the roots...

[rug]

6. That's it.

The church basements may no longer be smokey but they're still there.

[orpupilofnature57]

4. Jesus was into Separation of C&S , why aren't Christians and politicians?

[rug]

7. Let's debate this after this class assault abates a bit.

[orpupilofnature57]

8. They didn't bring up the whole Hoffa thing did they? I heard Jesus

was talking to him in the dinner parking lot just before Jimmy went in.

[rug]

9. As a matter of fact, no.

"At St. Agatha, Thindwa asked parishioners for help in calling for companies to pay workers a living wage, singling out Walmart. The giant retailer’s expansion plans in Chicago have been fraught with controversy over wages. The first store opened in the Austin neighborhood in 2006 after former Mayor Richard Daley vetoed a minimum wage-raising ordinance for big-box retailers."

[OHdem10]

10. Do we want support and more votes???? Or are we so pure we

cannot talk to Christians. If the church explains
Unions can be a good thing for working people, that
is a plus.

They get the Right Wingers Messages continuously.

It is no wonder, we have had trouble getting votes
and a good word from the Churches.

Most of the Union Members probably attend church.

[demosincebirth]

11. they'll get the help from the main stream churches not from the fundamentalist churchs

[darkstar3]

13. When politicians do this, we call it pandering.

When Barack Obama changed his message and spoke a few words in Spanish during the 2008 primary trip to Puerto Rico, he was roundly abused (and rightly so) for pandering. This is no different, and yet it is acceptable?

The cause of labor is and always has been just, and right, and exactly what is necessary for a prosperous, safe, and equal society. If the religious can't see that without it being reshaped to fit into their Sunday morning sermon, then they have more serious problems than simple apathy.

[rug]

14. Except these are not politicians.

Organizing union support from below is light years away from the calculated sound bites uttered by millionaire candidates, covered by national media.

If the antireligious cannot see this, then they have more serious problems than simple antipathy.

[darkstar3]

16. It's pandering, pure and simple, and it shouldn't be necessary.

It's not about money and national coverage, it's about changing the message and playing the "I'm one of you" card in order to garner support. It's distasteful, and I have always thought its effectiveness says much about the audience.

[rug]

17. Saying it twice does not make it so.

Since you "have always thought" this, it says much about your comment.

[darkstar3]

18. Let's see:

The union leaders are reshaping their message in order to appeal to the religious on a baser level.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pandering
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pandering
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/pandering - def 3.

If the cause is just, if the goal is right, then there is absolutely no reason to reshape the message in order to fit into the rhetoric of a group that should have been supportive to begin with.

Fuck pandering.

[rug]

19. You have a low view of union organizers to call them prostitutes.

"3) v. catering to special interests without any principles, such as a politician who says to whatever group he/she is addressing just what they want to hear to win their support, contributions, or favors. (See: prostitute)"

I don't know which is worse, to accuse them of not having principles or comparing them to politicians.

Fuck that.

[darkstar3]

20. I have a low view of anyone who panders, be they politicians

or other very similar forms of publicly visible group leaders.

ETA: You seriously believe that a comparison between often controversial group leaders who are trying to influence public policy and "politicians" is inapt? Fuckin' wow...

[rug]

21. Then you sould reexamine your views before calling people panderers.

Your preformed views are rarely fact.

And what "often controversial group leaders"? You mean this guy from the teachers union asking for help outside of a church?

Controversial?

Wow.

:puke:

[darkstar3]

22. You now believe that union leaders are not often controversial figures?

How far will you run from reality in order to avoid truth?

This is a clear example of pandering, and the comparison to politicians is apt. If you wish to disagree, you'll need to find something in reality to use. It's incredibly disingenuous to claim that union leaders, especially leaders of teachers unions, garner no controversy.

[rug]

23. In my neck of the woods, union organizers are not controversial figures.

I know plenty of people who think they are. Upon further inquiry, the "controversy" usually means opposition to unions.

Sorry you find them so controversial.

[darkstar3]

24. Funny, especially since you just proved my point.

[rug]

25. Keep thinking that.

You'll feel better.

[darkstar3]

26. "trololololol-lollol-lol-lol"

[Jim__]

15. Anything that helps get the message to the people about the current state of labor relations ...

... in this country is a good thing. I hope this helps.