Chapter IX: Strike Ethics

ALL our actions, whether done singly or in combination with others, are subject to the moral law. The moral law is the law of God, and all men, singly and collectively, are subject to the law of their Creator and Lord. If the moral law is broken the culprit will inevitably have to pay the penalty. One of the plainest lessons of that great truth has been enforced again by the Great War.

There are some actions which are always bad, like murder and theft. It is never right under any circumstances to commit murder or theft. Some actions are always right, such as the love of God. There are other actions which in general and in the abstract are neither good nor bad. They become good or bad according to the circumstances in which they are done. Among these latter actions are strikes.

Let us apply these general principles of Catholic morality to the question whether and when it is wrong to strike. In their late unfortunate strike some of the Liverpool policemen broke their oath. When they entered on their office they promised under oath to serve the King faithfully, to help to preserve the peace, to repress and to punish crime. If they had any grievances there were means of making them known and obtaining redress for them. If they were dissatisfied with the conditions of service they were at liberty to leave it. Their strike exposed the citizens of Liverpool to riot, robbery, and theft at the hands of the elements of disorder. These circumstances show that the police strike was morally wrong.

If we pass on to industrial strikes, we know from too much experience that they cause great loss, both private and public. The men lose their wages, the employers lose their trade and its profits, the country is deprived of the goods which it requires. This is clear enough from the coal miners' strike. There is a shortage of coal, and so the price of it rises. Everyone in the country suffers in consequence. Large numbers of men are idle, and according to the old saying, "An idle brain is the devil's workshop." The devil generally finds something for the idle striker to do: he incites him to drink, to riot, and to interfere with the natural liberty of others by intimidation or by preventing them from accepting work when they wish to do so. Class envy and hatred, too, are increased by strikes. The prosperity and happiness of the country depend on union and good will among all the citizens. Strikes prevent union and good will. Attention must be paid to the aim and object of a strike. A strike to compel the Government to withdraw British troops from Russia would be unwarrantable. The strikers could not possibly know the reasons which govern such political questions, and no section of the community has the right to usurp the functions of government. Sometimes the object of a strike is a small increase of wages which is not commensurate with the grave losses involved, or it takes place because somebody's dignity has been wounded. He was not consulted when he thought that he should have been consulted. Contracts and agreements once lawfully entered into are not mere scraps of paper. They are sacred engagements to which an honest man will be faithful. When employers and employed have entered into a lawful agreement for the continuance of work, neither party should break it as long as it remains valid and operative.

In spite of all this, it may sometimes be lawful to have recourse to a strike for the defence of some important right or to obtain relief from some gross injustice. But because, as we have seen, so many evils commonly attend strikes, the strikers should make sure of their ground, and use all means possible to obtain their just demands before resorting to a strike. A strike will be the last resort of a good citizen and of a good man.

We should all strive to do what we can to prevent industrial war by cultivating good will and good feeling between the different classes of society. All are brethren. Something can be done towards the same end by moderating our greed of money. Money is not the only nor is it the chief good even in this world.

Printed in England.