25/11/2011 by Ian Deakin.

Industrial action comes about because industrial relations have turned sour. Unions resort to industrial action simply because negotiations have taken an unsatisfactory turn or have reached an unsatisfactory end. A strike then is a fairly brutal method of trying to influence the negotiations. It’s at the business end of the spectrum. Essentially it’s coercion. When we strike, we’re trying to force an employer’s hand. It’s the withdrawal of our labour until a grievance is settled. That’s an aggressive strategy and it’s one that a Christian ought to be reluctant to employ too readily. I’m not saying that it’s never right, though I am saying that it should make us cautious. Consider these words in 1 Peter 2

¹⁸ Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.

We’re meant to be submissive employees who, because of our faith, are prepared to stomach being wrongly treated. That does not mean we sit down and take the wrong treatment, and say or do nothing about it. So, in general, Christians should be reluctant to strike.

So what approach should employees take when they have a legitimate grievance with their employers? Negotiation. But we need to urge our union representatives to stay at the table and keep the discussion going. They need to make our case to try to persuade the employers of the rightness and reasonableness of our position. I’m not naive. I understand that employers (having been one) may not always listen, they may not be objective in their deliberations and it may make no difference whatsoever. But we do need to be convinced that our union reps have exhausted all forms of communication before resorting to striking.

I’m not saying that Christians should never strike. There may be circumstances where that’s the right thing to do. The reason that I don’t think that loyalty to our employers is absolute is because there are situations where we need to be loyal to a greater cause. And that greater cause is justice and righteousness. There’s something godly about sticking up for the poor and the exploited. Even if we may be willing to work for an employer who treats the staff unfairly there will be times when we feel it’s appropriate to join in solidarity with our fellow workers and oppose the perpetuation of injustice.

Historically employers have exploited the work force. Their selfish greed for profits and the ready availability of a replacement unskilled workforce has enabled them to act unjustly. If they wanted to they could simply dismiss the rebellious workforce and replace it with others. Unions arose to make sure that the ‘little people’ had a voice. And that’s a good thing.

It is not in every sittuation that people are being exploited or victimised. In my opinion they are going to have to work for longer for a smaller pension. Is that the best? No, of course not. But we have a massive deficit and the Government is trying to balance the books. Public sector pay is therefore one area that has come under the microscope.

Given that opposing injustice and exploitation are legitimate reasons for Christians to strike, we need to ask our union representatives why they think we’re taking industrial action. I would suggest, in the current economic climate, it’s worth asking whether the strike has more to do with the employment situation or the political situation. It’ll be hard to separate the two at times, especially with public sector jobs. But strikes have sometimes been used to challenge a democratically elected Government and not to protect individuals against exploitation. So we mustn’t be naive about the possibility of an orchestrated union agenda intended to undermine the current Government’s approach to the country’s financial deficit. (I am not taking a political stance here for any party) We may well feel that the depth and rate of the cut in public spending is too deep and too fast. Would we be saying that with a strike?

Whilst the intention of industrial action is always to effect or try to influence the employer, it often ends up being misdirected towards third parties. When the employer is the Government, it’s the general public that tend to bear the brunt. When it’s the educators who withdraw their labour, it’s the kids who miss out. And so it’s worth asking what the effect of the strike will be on people and how you’d explain and justify why you’re choosing not to do what you are employed to do. Also am I just striking because my union has instigated a strike, and if so do I understand and agree with the reason.  It would be interesting for people to have to justify why they’re going on strike and the implications of their actions. If they don’t feel that they can do that, then it’s worth asking whether it’s justified!

You need to be convinced that you’re striking for reasons of injustice. If you are then go ahead and strike and make sure you can justify your reasons to yourself, employer and third parties who are effected. If you’re not convinced there’s possibly a value in belonging to a union. A consideration could be made to look for one that’s less militant in its’ approach to industrial action.

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14/11/2011 by Ian Deakin.

Do your thoughts ever consider the craziness of our world? There are people scrambling for power. Wealth is paraded, and in contrast, millions live in heart-wrenching poverty! Justice is perverted by terrorists and slippery politicians.

I have observed over the last period of time thousands of complaints about a delay in a TV programme starting, complaints and demonstrations concerning implemented austerity measures. People who only look at the personal implications of restriction and inconvenience, rather than the whole picture as in the case of a TV programme which was an unavoidable technical issue, or in austerity measures an only way out of paying an owed debt irrespective of the cause.

Where does all this stem from? Why are some people so selfish and uncaring? Will things ever change for the better?

The basic cause for this situation can be summed up in one word: Selfishness. The selfish human heart, that lives only for itself has been an issue throughout creation. God’s plan was that everything He has created would be a blessing to others. But His plan met with opposition in Heaven when Lucifer allowed the desire to be above everyone else (Isaiah 14:14) ^13-14You said to yourself,
“I’ll climb to heaven. I’ll set my throne over the stars of God. I’ll run the assembly of angels that meets on sacred Mount Zaphon. I’ll climb to the top of the clouds. I’ll take over as King of the Universe!” .

God gave a warning in the tenth commandment against having an attitude of covetousness, self-seeking, looking out just for yourself, and the desire for selfish gain (Exodus 20:17).  ¹⁷ “No lusting after your neighbour’s house—or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don’t set your heart on anything that is your neighbour’s”.

For us to understand the devastating effects of covetousness we need only compare the two main players in the struggle between good and evil.

A. Lucifer (later known as Satan) said, (Isaiah 14:13-14). “I’ll set my throne over the stars of God...I’ll take over as King of the Universe!” .

B. Christ, (Philippians 2:6-7). ”When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human”.  When reading the bible a clear picture of what heaven values most is presented. In (John 13:3-17) “. . . So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron Jesus washed His disciples feet to demonstrate His plan for people to serve one another with dignity . . .” Giving of ones self, finance, time to benefit others is a fundamental in God’s kingdom. God gave and and sent His son, what an amazing sacrifice. Not only did God give us Salvation, but He showered us with other blessings and gifts and allowed us to to manage and use them in compassionate ways.We are God’s Managers so let us use what has been given generously to us, generously give to others. (Mathew 10:8) “Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously”

In the management of His gifts let it not only be at our convenience but also being led by His Spirit and responding to His voice even when it demands sacrifice.

Let us by His Grace and with His help bring influence and consequential effect to His World.

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