Internet Board
Internet Board
| Author | mary Kambic |
| Date | 00/09/08/13:45 |
| Brothers and Sisters,
Happy Labor Day week! Here is the yearly message from Father Joe Muth,pastor of St.Matthew Catholic Church, and supporter of locked-out workers: THIS IS LABOR DAY WEEKEND. WE CELEBRATE THE GIFT OF WORK AND REMEMBER ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT OF WORK, WHO ARE EMPLOYED AT LOW WAGE, NON-BENEFIT JOBS, AND THOSE WHO HAVE TO WORK TWO OR THREE JOBS JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET FOR THEIR FAMILIES. THE CHURCH'S HISTORY, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST ONE HUNDRED YEARS, HAS SUPPORTED THE UNIONIZING OF WORKERS, THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, AND THE PROTECTION OF THE WORKERS BY PAYING A LIVING WAGE. IT IS A STRUGGLE IN OUR OWN DAY AND AGE FOR THIS WORD TO BE HEARD. EVEN SOME OF OUR CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS ARE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. SO WE TAKE THE TIME TODAY TO REMEMBER AND GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. AND WE SET OUR SIGHTS ON ALL THAT HAS TO BE DONE. I also posted this message to the Catholic Labor Network after the board meeting: LAST WEEK WAS A SERIES OF VICTORIES FOR CROWN CENTRAL PETROLEUM LOCKED-OUT WORKERS, CATHOLICS FOR JUSTICE AT CROWN, AND AFL-CIO SUPPORTERS. ON WEDNESDAY, SIX OF THE LOCKED-OUT WORKERS FROM PASADENA, TEXAS, PLUS SUPPORTERS, RALLIED DOWNTOWN AT THE CROWN HEADQUARTERS ACCOMPANIED BY "HENRY THE RAT", THE 15-FOOT INFLATABLE RAT BORROWED FROM THE LABORERS' UNION. WE RECEIVED COVERAGE FROM THE TV STATIONS, THE BALTIMORE SUN, AND THE WASHINGTON POST. THE FOLLOWING DAY, A SPECIAL MEETING WAS HELD BY CROWN TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSED SALE OF CROWN TO ROSEMORE, A COMPANY CONTROLLED BY THE SAME FAMILY THAT OWNS CROWN. AFL-CIO OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL, AND OPPOSITIION BY THE CROWN WORKERS AS WELL AS A BID BY APEX FOR CROWN, RESULTED IN THE DEFEAT OF THE PROPOSAL. CLAPPING AND CHEERS RANG OUT IN THE BOARDROOM AS THE VOTE WAS ANNOUNCED. I WAS HEARTENED BY THE PRESENCE OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY AT THE MEETING. DURING THE COMMENT PERIOD, REMARKS WERE MADE BY DICK ULLRICH, OF THE MARIANIST BROTHERS AND PRIESTS' OFFICE OF PEACE AND JUSTICE; CHUCK MICHAELS OF PAX CHRISTI; MYSELF; AND REVEREND SIDNEY DANIELS OF THE INTERDENOMINATIONAL MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE. PAUL BOOTH, RETIRED UAW MEMBER AND REPRESENTATIVE OF CATHOLICS FOR JUSTICE AT CROWN, CAME WITH A BUSLOAD OF RETIREES FROM UAW TO KEEP COMPANY WITH THE "RAT" WHO ALSO ATTENDED THE BOARD MEETING HELD AT A COUNTRY CLUB. JOE DREXLER OF PACE, AND ED ROTHSTEIN, COORDINATOR OT THE CORWN BOYCOTT IN BALTIMORE, SAID TO THE PRESS THAT "THE LITTLE GUYS HAD WON." DISAPPOINTMENT STILL REIGNS OVER THE CONTINUED FAILURE OF REVEREND HAROLD RIDLEY, SJ, TO MEET WITH CATHOLICS. MY LETTER TO AMERICA, THE JESUIT WEEKLY, OVER BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AT CATHOLIC COLLEGED (CROWN'S HENRY ROSENBERG SITS ON LOYOLA'S BOARD) DIDN'T MAKE IT IN. AS ALWAYS, WE ENJOYED MEETING THE WORKERS AND HEARING THEIR STORIES. In Solidarity, Mary Kambic |