Msgr. Charles Owen Rice to P-9 rally: 'Unionism is standing tall'

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Socialist Action/Baer Msgr. Charles Owen Rice The following are excerpts from a speech by Monsignor Charles Owen Rice to striking Hormel workers and supporters at Solidarity City, near Austin, Minn., on June 27.

Msgr. Rice is a long-time supporter of the union movement and was one of the first priests to walk labor picket lines in the 1930s during the CIO organizing drives. He was also a prominent opponent of the U.S. war against Vietnam and participated in many antiwar de -monstrations. Msgr. Rice recently retired as pastor of St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church in Castle Shannon, Pa.

When I was a young priest, even before I was ordained, I was very much interested in the labor movement. We had a feeling toward the labor movement back in the 1930s, particularly toward the CIO, that it was an answer to more than the problems of the workers. We had a feeling that a union could do something for society as a whole. It could be the cutting edge of reform. That was before "bread and butter" unionism dominated.

Now in those days there was a powerful spirit among the unions. The intellectuals favored the unions, and many young people wanted to work for the unions. In those days it was seen as a beautiful cause, not just a way of enlightened selfishness.

One of the things that attracted me to P-9 was that you people had that old spirit. You felt that there was more to the union than just wages and working conditions. Solidarity was more than just a word Unionism is about standing tall. And it is about human dignity. As I talk to you people and listen, I hear indignation at being treated as if you were not human, as if you didn't have anything to say or contribute, as if you were like one of the machines.

What has happened at Hormel? This once was a company that worked you hard, paid you well, and was seen as recognizing you as human beings. But that changed. Not only has your dignity been taken away, but they want you to work harder for less money and less safety.

Back in the 1920s and before the turn of the century, employers had an anger at their unions. They had an anger that union men would dare to talk back, and dare to try to get more money. Sometimes they would say, in those days, that all these workers are interested in is money.

What is the employer interested in? What are the stockholders interested in—but money. Those of you who want more money are just good little members of the capitalist system and they should be glad.

Union with old spirit I have run into people of the employing class in Pittsburgh, people who made money from money. They dismissed the plight of the steelworkers. If these workers' wages are cut, they said, it only means that they won't be able to have their motor boats, and they may not be able to fish and hunt so much, and they may not be able to have two cars.

Those saying this, of course, were people who had many cars and were always looking to advance themselves. These are people who are doing nothing for the economy. They are taking money out of it, stockbrokers, insurance people, lawyers. These are people who make a great deal of money shuffling papers, trying to outguess the stock market.

Those hard-hearted businessmen of years ago, it was thought for a while that their day was ended. But it is not.

We have an education to do. One of the reasons that P9 appealed to me, the original P-9, was that this was obviously a group that had the old spirit, that was interested in the union as a cause and cared very much for human dignity.

Those of us who are at all liberal are worried about the type of persons Ronald Reagan has appointed to the courts. But the funny thing is, rarely could Reagan find a judge who could do a dirtier trick to you than Judge Devitt has.

The judgments against you by Judge Devitt reminds me of the old days, in the 1920s, when they would out by the courts, the company's contempt for the unions was made clear.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Guilford prepared its next move. GTI held a July 17 meeting with New England members of Congress to divert attention enjoin anything. Things were so bad that Congress had to pass a law against this type of antilabor injunction. And here it is back again. I can't believe it—anyone connected with P-9, as I gather it, is threatened with a criminal action charge if you mention the word "boycott."

Now I am mentioning the word boycott. I have a P-9 button. I don't know whether Judge Devitt wants to make something of it—but if he does, he may.

In South Africa one of the nasty things is that they have passed a law so that almost anything you say or do can be declared illegal. If you are the wrong color you could have the stuffing beat out of you, or you may be killed. And even if you are the right color and have the wrong opinions you are in trouble. Do we want that here in Minnesota?

"You are not afraid"

The ugliness of this anti-labor injunction is this: The injunction is passed and the union is hurt, and then two months later the injunction is overturned. But the damage is done. That is the danger.

I don't think that tactic is going to work now, because I see determination. And I see courage in these faces. You people are not afraid. You are the loyal ones. You are the ones who love your brothers and sisters.

As for your union International, I can't imagine what they are about. You can give concessions forever, you can compromise forever, and there is never an end.

There are a few alternatives. You can fight hard as you are doing. You can give in a great deal, or you can go over and join the other guys. The latter is what your International has done. I would say it has betrayed you. Some of these people in the International are friends of mine. I don't mind if they hear it. It has betrayed you.

The solidarity of the workers is a beautiful thing. The fight you are engaged in is a fight for the consciousness of the American people. Ultimately, there are more of us than there are of them.

There is something that the United States of America stands for. That is the human dignity we spoke of, the rights of the individual, and freedom. There is no freedom if you are broke. Freedom of the press, freedom of expression means nothing because those with money and power can overpower you.

A union such as yours can stand against the power of money, if you stick together in solidarity. We need more and stronger trade unions. And we need your inspiration. You are a light shining in the darkness. You are a bright example, you brave men and women.

You are fighting, not just for yourselves, but for other working people, particularly in this country. May God bless you and give you success in this most difficult and important struggle.

are needed—not reliance on the company, the courts, the politicians, the Railway Labor Act, or any presidential board.

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