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Vatican Policy Cited in Verizon Wireless Protest
The administration of Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., got a healthy dose of moral outrage March 3, when about 15 CWA and IBEW members leafleted on behalf of Verizon Wireless workers at the Jesuit-run institution.
They distributed about 200 copies of an open letter to the Rev. Vincent Cooke, S.J., president of the college, pointing out the inconsistency of Catholic social teaching - which strongly upholds the rights of workers to form unions and collectively bargain - and the union-busting actions of Verizon Wireless CEO Dennis Strigl, who sits on the college's board of trustees.
The letter cited the Second Vatican Council's Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World, issued by the Vatican in 1965:
"Among the basic rights of the human person must be counted the right of freely founding labor unions," the document declares. "These unions should be truly able to represent the workers and to contribute to the proper arrangement of economic life. Another such right is that of taking part freely in the activity of these unions without fear of reprisal."
The letter, accompanied by a fact sheet detailing Verizon Wireless' 10-year history of union avoidance and the retaliatory firings of two VZW workers, called for an inquiry by the college administration as to the suitability of Strigl continuing to serve on the board.
"When representatives of the business community serve as Catholic college trustees, they should be men and women dedicated, in their own lives, to upholding the values and teachings of the Church," the letter said. "Mr. Strigl's role in overseeing and maintaining labor relations policies, which have led to workplace harassment, intimidation and discrimination, is hardly consistent with such standards of behavior."
The members - from CWA Locals 1122, 1115 and 1117 and an IBEW local - picketed under the scrutiny of the Buffalo Police, sheriffs and state troopers. One team covered the main entrance of the campus and another, the student union entrance, handing out fliers to faculty, students and community leaders.
"The members did a great job explaining why we were there," said Local 1122 Executive Vice President John Carosa. "The people were very receptive, and many drove by honking their horns in support."
They distributed about 200 copies of an open letter to the Rev. Vincent Cooke, S.J., president of the college, pointing out the inconsistency of Catholic social teaching - which strongly upholds the rights of workers to form unions and collectively bargain - and the union-busting actions of Verizon Wireless CEO Dennis Strigl, who sits on the college's board of trustees.
The letter cited the Second Vatican Council's Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World, issued by the Vatican in 1965:
"Among the basic rights of the human person must be counted the right of freely founding labor unions," the document declares. "These unions should be truly able to represent the workers and to contribute to the proper arrangement of economic life. Another such right is that of taking part freely in the activity of these unions without fear of reprisal."
The letter, accompanied by a fact sheet detailing Verizon Wireless' 10-year history of union avoidance and the retaliatory firings of two VZW workers, called for an inquiry by the college administration as to the suitability of Strigl continuing to serve on the board.
"When representatives of the business community serve as Catholic college trustees, they should be men and women dedicated, in their own lives, to upholding the values and teachings of the Church," the letter said. "Mr. Strigl's role in overseeing and maintaining labor relations policies, which have led to workplace harassment, intimidation and discrimination, is hardly consistent with such standards of behavior."
The members - from CWA Locals 1122, 1115 and 1117 and an IBEW local - picketed under the scrutiny of the Buffalo Police, sheriffs and state troopers. One team covered the main entrance of the campus and another, the student union entrance, handing out fliers to faculty, students and community leaders.
"The members did a great job explaining why we were there," said Local 1122 Executive Vice President John Carosa. "The people were very receptive, and many drove by honking their horns in support."