LABOR DISPUTE DIVIDES RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY

[Omaha Steve]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Victoria Colliver, Chronicle Staff Writer

Labor organizing can be tense under the best of circumstances, but in bucolic Sonoma County, one such effort has escalated to a theological debate of sorts, pitting Catholic nuns against their ecclesiastic brethren in a dispute involving labor rights, the church's social teachings and a multibillion-dollar business.

On one side are the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, who operate Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital as part of the $3.35 billion St. Joseph Healthcare System, a business that supports their order. On the other are local priests, labor leaders and hospital employees who have accused management of creating an atmosphere of intimidation.

The tension has escalated in recent months, which have been punctuated by marches, vigils and meetings.

For their part, hospital officials say they respect their workers' right to organize and deny any union-busting agenda.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/27/BU91UD24P.DTL

[tekisui]

1. Omaha Steve, just want to give you a big thanks for your labor posts.

I read them often, but rarely reply.

Thanks!

[CrispyQ]

2. I second that!

You are truly one of DUs best & a great voice for the progressive community!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[patrice]

3. If there's one organizational structure that could supplant churches in their political influence

it is Unions. Unions could have, in secular dimensions, as much or more power than the church cartels.

Solidarity, OmahaSteve!

[0007]

4. The church cartel rules the fools!

......and we thought the neocons were dangerous!

[patrice]

5. We must concentrate on what to do take their power away from them, because

anyone who thinks they aren't doing political organizing for candidates is delusional.

We've got to out organize the churches.

[0007]

6. 'The Round Church' is the only answer! n/t