Soften the hands of the oppressor and
Strengthen the hands of the oppressed
Bless the hands of the workers,
Bless the hands of those in power above them
That the measure they deal will be tempered
With justice and compassion.

Amen

(National Farmwork Ministry)

As congregations meet on Sunday, and as they look back on the week past
and the week ahead,
Remember, in Australia:
This week and every week this year
8 workers will be killed at work,
44 will die from a work related disease
52 each week.
440 killed each year.
2300 will die each year from a work-related disease.
000s are injured in workplaces or suffer from an industrial disease.
15 serious injuries happen each hour.

April 28 each year is the International Day of Mourning or Workers Memorial Day.

See here for an overview of the significance of the Day: http://www.gordonmoyes.com/2010/04/09/international-day-of-mourning/

When was the last time a sermon was preached or a discussion led by workers about workers?

Or the themes of ‘solidarity’ and ‘community’ explored?

Or a state conference or ministry or property or community service department/company has provided prayer resources for workers?

Or, as a minister, thought about the benefits we now enjoy – super, parental leave, vacation leave, sabbaticals (for academics in the main), long service, OHS, grievance processes, wage determinations etc., and were they originated,and how in effect we have ‘ridden in on the back of the unions’; how we as ministers not belonging to a union or staff association, enjoy these benefits without paying a cent?

Some resources for your imagination:

* National Farmwork Ministry (Its farmworkers who ensure that much of the food we eat ends up on our tables)

NB Prayers: http://www.nfwm.org/content/worship-resources

* Interfaith Workers Justice: http://iwj.org

NB Congregational resources: http://iwj.org/template/page.cfm?id=62

Religious perspectives on work: http://iwj.org/template/page.cfm?id=19

Labour in the pulpits: http://iwj.org/index.cfm/labor-in-the-pulpits

NB Some action that a congregation could take:”Establishing an ethic for worker justice: An assessment tool for congregations”

Click to access assess_tool.pdf

Alan Matheson