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freedom
of association
Washington state teachers must pay an average of $760 to the NEA and
its state affiliates each year or find another job, unless they jump through
union hoops to become objectors. This forced association violates the religious
convictions of some teachers.
In Regarding My Religious Beliefs Concerning Unions, Charles W.
Baird, Professor of Economics at California State University, states that
"the obligations of Christianity, whether Protestant or Catholic,
include abstinence from all forms of coercion and violence."1
He appeals to several papal encyclicals in explaining that workers should
never be forced to "join or support unions whose actions are either
unchristian or contrary to the public interest." As Baird understands
Pope Pius XI, "freedom
of association clearly includes the freedom not to associate."
Reverend John A. Heys of the Protestant Reformed Church of America further
explains that practicing Christians may not be "unequally yoked"
with unbelievers. He says union membership "may not be sanctioned
when it puts one in the position where he will have to behave contrary
to the words that proceed from God's mouth. Unequally
yoked with the unbeliever, he will have to do things the unbeliever's
way."2 He also believes that "joining
a union of unbelievers, swearing loyalty to its constitution, [and] voluntarily
sitting down with them to make policy is agreeing to a program" that
is often contrary to a biblical worldview.
Several churches also have statements
of faith that caution against association with a union under certain
circumstances:3
Christian Reformed Church of America: "Church
membership and membership in a labor union are compatible as long as the
union does not warrant or champion sin in its regular activities. Church
members should discontinue membership in any unions whose common practices
are clearly in conflict with the principles of the Word of God. Christian
conscience cannot condone membership in a union if it continues in sinful
practices in spite of protests against them."
Roman Catholic: "The role of unions is not to
'play politics'in the sense that the expression is commonly understood
today. Unions do not have the character of political parties struggling
for power; they should not be subjected to the decision of political parties
or have too close links with them. In fact, in such a situation they easily
lose contact with their specific role, which is to secure the just rights
of workers within the framework of the common good of the whole of society;
instead they become an instrument used for other purposes."4
Seventh-day Adventist: "A Seventh-day Adventist
cannot either join or support a labor union because: 1) His allegiance
to Christ forbids it. 2) The Scriptures do not permit it. 3) The Law of
God rejects it. 4) The Spirit of Prophecy counsels against it. 5) The
law of service does not harmonize with it. 6) It is contrary to baptismal
views. 7) The Seventh-Day Adventist Church clearly exhorts otherwise."5
1 Charles W. Baird, Regarding My Religious Beliefs Concerning
Unions, September 24, 2001.
2 Rev. John A. Heys, Labor Union Membership In Light Of Scripture,
Protestant Reformed Church of America, 2001.
3 Churches On Unionism And Labor, Labor Watch, Capital Research
Center, July 2003.
4 Pope John Paul II, Laborem Exercens (encyclical).
5 W. Melvin Adams, Seventh-Day Adventists and Labor Unions.
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