Laborem exercens On Human Work III CONFLICT BETWEEN LABOUR AND CAPITAL IN THE PRESENT PHASE OF HISTORY Pope John Paul II.

Laborem exercens

On Human Work III CONFLICT BETWEEN LABOUR AND CAPITAL

IN THE PRESENT PHASE OF HISTORYPope John Paul II

11. Dimensions of the Conflict

• Capital – the small but influential group of entrepreneurs, owners or holders of the means of production

• Labour – those who share in the process of production soley by their labour (note British spelling)

11. Dimensions of the Conflict

• Entrepreneurs follow the principle of maximum profit– Establish the lowest possible wages for labor– Other elements• Lack of safe working conditions• No safeguards regarding health and living conditions of

the workers and their families

11. Dimensions of the Conflict

• Marxism– Collectivize the means of productions. Human

labor is preserved by taking the means of production from private hands.

• Question:– Is the United States a capitalist country?

12. The Priority of Labor

• Technology has been produced by human work.• The Church teaches the priority of labour over

capital. Labor = Primary, Capital = mere instrument.

• Man takes over the resources of the earth by work and then uses them for work.

• Resources are the gift of the Creator. Means of production are the result of the historical heritage of human labor (man’s experience and intellect).

12. The Priority of Labor

• Capital is the result of work and bears the signs of human labour

• The collection of instruments used in work are subordinate to human labor.

• Man over things (Labor over Capital).

13. Economism and Materialism

• A morally legitimate labor system overcomes the opposition between labor and capital.

• Through work, man enters into two inheritances– What is given to the whole of humanity (resources

of nature)– What others have already developed on the basis

of those resources (technology, tools, …)

13. Economism and Materialism

• Economism – considers human labor solely according to its economic purpse.– Places material ahead of labor

• At the time of industrialization– Focused on the means(vastly increase wealth)– Ignored ends (man).

• Question: Does our current system value people over things? (Where?)

14. Work and Ownership

• The Church teaches neither Marxism or capitalism• The right to private property is subordinated to

the right to common use.• The reason to posses property is to serve labor

(not to oppose labor, not to posses for possesion sake)

• Proposals for joint ownership of the means of work (workers share in management and profits)

14. Work and Ownership

• “Rigid” capitalism must undergo revision to be reformed from the point of view of human rights. These reforms cannot be achieved by an a priori elimination of private ownership of the means of production. (“Public” owners may also fail to give priority to labor.) Converting to State ownership is not equvalent to “socializing” that property.

15. The "Personalist" Argument

• Man wishes when he works that– He can use the fruit of his work for himself and

others– Share in the responsibility and the creativity of the

work• Feel that you are working for yourself (not as a

cog in a machine)

Laborem exercens

On Human Work IV. RIGHTS OF WORKERS

Pope John Paul II

16. Within the Broad Context ofHuman Rights

• Work is an obligation but also a source of rights for the worker.

• Rights of the worker are a subset of fundamental human rights

• Man must work (obligation)– To self, family, society, country, entire human

family

16. Within the Broad Context ofHuman Rights

• Direct employer is the person or institution with whom the worker enters directly into a contract.

• The indirect employer consists of the factors that exercise a determining influence on the shaping both of the work contract and, consequently, of just or unjust relationships in the field of human labor.

17. Direct and Indirect Employer

• The State is an Indirect Employer• States do not stand by themselves (trade)• Large multinational companies attempt to fix

the highest prices for their products and lowest prices for the inputs (materials).

• Faced with above, direct employer fixes working conditions below the objective requirements of the workers.

17. Direct and Indirect Employer

• Objective rights of the worker must be the fundamental criterion for shaping the whole economy.

• Influence in this direction should be exercised by international organizations. (UN)

• Individual states have departments / institutions for this purpose.

18. The Employment Issue

• Issue: Find suitable employment for all who are capable of it.

• Agents under “indirect employment” should act against unemployment.

• The duty to provide unemployment benefits comes from the principle of the common use of goods. Simpler: the right of life and subsistence.

18. The Employment Issue

• See page 38 (page 40 in pdf) – Must make provision for overall planning (% on farms….)– States must collaborate

• Living standards should show less disturbing differences

• A system of education is required … to allow people to an appropriate place in the vast and socially differentiated world of work.

• Disconcerting fact: resources remain unused but people are unemployed and multitudes suffer from hunger

18. The Employment Issue

• How has Germany kept people under 26 out of the employment market?

19. Wages and Other Social Benefits

• Deontological = based on duties

19. Wages and Other Social Benefits

• Rights:– just remuneration for work done• Allows access to good which are intended for common

use• Key means to check that the whole socioeconomic

system is functioning justly• Wage should be sufficient to avoid forcing spouse to

take up gainful employment• Women should not be discriminated against (p 42, pdf

44)

19. Wages and Other Social Benefits

• Rights (continued)– Social benefits• Health Care• Right to rest (Sunday, vacation, leisure)• Pension, disability

– Working environment• Not harmful

– Health– Moral integrity

20. Importance of Unions

• Importance of Unions– Mouthpiece for the struggle for social justice– Not a struggle against others

• Workers and owners/managers must be united in a community. (Goal is not to eliminate an opponent)

• Unions should not have close links with political parties. They should secure the rights of workers within the framework of the common good for the whole society.

20. Importance of Unions

• Unions can provide education/skills development for workers. (Result should be that workers not only have more but also be more

• Workers should be assured the right to strike but this right should not be abused. Essential services must be ensured – if necessary by means of legislation.

21. Dignity of Agricultural Work

• Workers can be exploited by big land owners• Workers may be denied the right to free

association• There may be low wages and lack of social

benefits• In many situations, radical and urgent changes

are needed to restore to agriculture and to rural people their just value as the basis for a healthy economy.

22. The Disabled Person and Work

• Direct and indirect employers should foster the right of disabled people to training and work.

23. Work and the EmigrationQuestion

• Man has the right to leave his native land for various motives— and also the right to return—in order to seek better conditions of life in another country

• A person working away from his native land should not be placed at a disadvantage relative to other workers.