Reflections on Collective Bargaining from A Christian World View
Gary E. Roberts
Professor of Government
Regent University
1000 Regent University Drive,
Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23464
Office Phone: 757 352-4962, Fax: 757 352-4735
E-Mail: garyrob@regent.edu
Reflections on Collective Bargaining from A Christian World View
Collective bargaining illustrates the importance of an authentic integration of a Christian world view into the work place. The very existence of unions is the product of a broken workplace covenant and the adoption of secular instrumental view of human labor. From a biblical standpoint, work is a vital life domain that plays a major role in redemptive Christian sanctification and the renewing of the mind (see the work of Fournier). When leaders and managers fail to uphold Christian servant leader principles, it places a stumbling block in front of employees in practicing servant followership by cultivating defensive and rebellious actions that impede the development of virtue, character and the fruits of a harmonious workplace environment (long term organizational effectiveness, mission achievement, and employee growth).
1. Unions are a reaction to historical abuse of employee rights and dignity through the operation of the employment at will doctrine and the instrumental view of labor as another cost of production.
a. Arbitrary employee treatment (termination, discipline, work assignments) and the abuse of authority given the absence of due process protections and the inequality in power between individual employees and management
b. The imposition of labor cost reduction strategies that increase work effort and reduce compensation
c. The failure to remedy hazardous working conditions
d. The absence of employee input and empowerment
2. The absence of servant leadership creates a conflictual labor-management relations climate in that creates an accelerating cycle of distrust and retaliation for perceived or actual wrongs.. Each side views the other as the “enemy” and devises military like
Professor of Government
Regent University
1000 Regent University Drive,
Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23464
Office Phone: 757 352-4962, Fax: 757 352-4735
E-Mail: garyrob@regent.edu
Reflections on Collective Bargaining from A Christian World View
Collective bargaining illustrates the importance of an authentic integration of a Christian world view into the work place. The very existence of unions is the product of a broken workplace covenant and the adoption of secular instrumental view of human labor. From a biblical standpoint, work is a vital life domain that plays a major role in redemptive Christian sanctification and the renewing of the mind (see the work of Fournier). When leaders and managers fail to uphold Christian servant leader principles, it places a stumbling block in front of employees in practicing servant followership by cultivating defensive and rebellious actions that impede the development of virtue, character and the fruits of a harmonious workplace environment (long term organizational effectiveness, mission achievement, and employee growth).
1. Unions are a reaction to historical abuse of employee rights and dignity through the operation of the employment at will doctrine and the instrumental view of labor as another cost of production.
a. Arbitrary employee treatment (termination, discipline, work assignments) and the abuse of authority given the absence of due process protections and the inequality in power between individual employees and management
b. The imposition of labor cost reduction strategies that increase work effort and reduce compensation
c. The failure to remedy hazardous working conditions
d. The absence of employee input and empowerment
2. The absence of servant leadership creates a conflictual labor-management relations climate in that creates an accelerating cycle of distrust and retaliation for perceived or actual wrongs.. Each side views the other as the “enemy” and devises military like