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Reflecting on the Toronto strike

July 23rd, 2009 by Administrator

I’m someone who has long sought and pondered what God has planned for me with regards to a career, and I’ve been led to share some of these experiences at Grace as part of the Faith & Work leadership team. I’m also currently on strike – a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79, supposedly protesting the injustices brought on our 20 000 members by our employer, the City of Toronto.

Is it fate (or just interesting) that this strike has occurred just as our ministry is getting off the ground? Labour relations, within the added context of ‘the economic crisis’ is now on everyone’s mind across our City. So I’m wondering what role does faith, and God himself, play in these labour relations?

Work is good, and ordained by God. Work is also broken, and needs to be redeemed. For millenia, employers have exploited workers for their own profits, power and glory. This part of ‘human nature’ is clearly an element of what is broken, and most surely grieves the Lord.

Unions have historically played an important role in ensuring safe, just workplaces for countless workers. These goals are based on the truth that all people are created equal by God, and should be treated fairly. We pray that these movements around the world have continue to glorify and delight Him.

On the other hand, the City is by far the best employer I have personally ever had. By nature (and legislation) governments are beachheads of equality and fairness in the workplace. Employees are not only compensated fairly, but in many cases, more than fairly. In addition, employees are ‘public servants,’ serving the multitude of needs that our society has…  what a priveledge! So why protest? Why strike?

It seems as though modern labour negotiations (at least in the developed world) have become little more than a power struggle. A struggle to empower not the workers, but the union itself. So here we are: the City has offended the union leaders, we’re off the job and everyone is suffering.

As Christians should we be satisfied and content with where we are called to work?  Yes (1 Cor. 7:17)  Should we act as change agents when we see injustice in the workplace?  Definitely (Isaiah 1:17) Should we aim to glorify ourselves, our unions, or even our employers?  Of course not. The only one who we should glorify is God!

In this strike, perhaps much more than in a private sector strike, everyone loses. Especially the public who the striking workers are meant to serve. I think that God is grieved by this, and it’s another example of how our workplaces are broken and in need of redemption. I pray that the labour action comes to an expedient and fair end that helps to build up relationships in the office rather than put up barriers. I have faith that God is in control; that He will provide for my family in the interim (and always). I urge the union leadership to look beyond their self-interest. And, when all is said and done, and we employees are back in our offices (and yes, on our garbage routes), I pray that we recognize how good we have it, and realize that we need to be good stewards of our gifts. Yes, even to be change agents for fairness and equity wherever it is absent.

One day, our workplaces will be redeemed.