Richard Hollerman

We know them as “Labor Unions” and they have been around for many years now. Recently they have been in the news, with the Unions seeking to raise wages and obtain more benefits. We are speaking about wages, more retirement income, longer vacations, “cost of living” increases, and other benefits.

Of course, from a thoroughly “Christian” standpoint (if this means anything to most people) this is all wrong and unbiblical. But it is what’s done in the world. In the present crisis, the UAW (the union) refuses to budge and is promoting their members in this. (Once I spoke to the Texas union leader and he said that no one is “forced” to join the membership. So I assume this is true. Yet, know that the union forces are strong and they will do much damage to non-union workers if they refuse to join—if this is possible in “closed shop” states.) We have often wondered what true Christians should do in this case!

I have recently read an article entitled “The Power of Unions.” From a Christian standpoint, believing in the “power” of Christ” or the “power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24-25), we wonder how we are to respond to this wicked influence. As we understand history, both the evil and greedy owners as well as the wicked and greedy workers are at fault. We find this so sad and so unchristlike in attitude.

Stellates is calling for 25% increase in wages, for example. And after the increase, they seek $42 an hour. If my math is correct, this would be $1680 a week! We find this shocking, but it is what the Unions are seeking (and demanding). Supposedly, this will continue for three years, until 2028. (When I was forced to quit my job, I earned about $8-$9 an hour!)

I don’t know the total number of workers, but it could be tens of thousands in all of the plants (in Michigan, Ohio, and elsewhere). We have heard or seen the number of people affected. Just how this will affect the workers in Japan, in China, in Korea, and elsewhere, we wonder.

With all of these increases, we wonder how one can buy a $15,000 car these days! And if the cost rises to $30,000 or $40,000, again we wonder how one can afford to pay such exorbitant prices! We wonder (on a practical level) how one can afford to pay such prices! Keeping in mind the lucrative cost of cars and trucks these days, we do wonder what can be done. If there are any professing Christians involved in this enterprise (we hope that they are not) let us hope that they repent and seek forgiveness from God for their greed!

In the midst of this climate of greed, of lechery, and of gluttony, we wonder what the follower of Christ should do. We doubt that of the tens of thousands of union members, very few will claim to be followers of the poverty-stricken Savior. But we hope that a few will earnestly strive to have a contented heart in the midst of this climate.