Labor movements Archives

Pandemic’s economic toll just starting to show for both nation, church

Apr 4, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After 11 years of U.S. economic growth, the statistics are staggering. First-time applications for unemployment benefits, which had been hovering in the low 200,000s from week to week, soared to 3.3 million in the March 26 report, then nearly doubled to 6.58 million in the April 2

By Mark Pattison

Presidential debate issue: Crossing picket line at a Catholic university

Dec 17, 2019

Days before the scheduled Democratic presidential debate Dec. 19 at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, there was no debate about what the seven qualifying candidates would do if the labor dispute between a food service company and school employees was not resolved by Dec. 18. All of the candidates said they wouldn’t cross a picket line to participate in the debate and they hoped the two sides would reach an agreement.

By Carol Zimmermann

USCCB brief backing unions the talk of Catholic Labor Network meeting

Feb 5, 2018

The fact that the U.S. bishops wrote an amicus brief in January supporting labor unions in their battle to avoid a “right-to-work” environment in the public sector was the talk at the Feb. 3 annual meeting of the Catholic Labor Network.

By Mark Pattison

Pope Francis says work’s not just an occupation, but a mission

Nov 25, 2017

In a letter for the conclusion of a conference on labor on Friday, Pope Francis said work is about more than just doing something for money, but about cooperating with Christ’s work of redemption in how we care for others and the earth.

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope complains of ‘scandalous sums’ to save banks but not people

Nov 5, 2016

“What’s happening in today’s world that, when a bank goes bankrupt, immediately scandalous sums appear to save it, but when there’s a ‘bankruptcy of humanity,’ there isn’t one-one thousandth of the same amount to save these brothers who suffer so much?” Pope Francis asked on Saturday.

By Cindy Wooden

Bishops say lack of good jobs is hurting American families

Aug 25, 2016

In an annual statement for Labor Day, the head of the US bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development says a lack of jobs that pay enough to keep a family above the poverty line is driving a progressive breakdown in family health and stability.

By Mark Pattison