Labour Rights and the Catholic Church (Law and Religion)

This book explores the extent of parallelism and cross-influence between Catholic Social Teaching and the work of the world’s oldest human rights institution, the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Sometimes there is a mutual attraction between seeming opposites who in fact share a common goal. This book is about just such an attraction between a secular organisation born of the political desire for peace and justice, and a metaphysical institution much older founded to bring peace and justice on earth. It examines the principles evident in the teachings of the Catholic Church and in the secular philosophy of the ILO; together with the theological basis of the relevant provisions of Catholic Social Teaching and of the socio-political origins and basis of the ILO. The spectrum of labour rights covered in the book extends from the right to press for rights, i.e., collective bargaining, to rights themselves – conditions in work – and on to post-employment rights in the form of social security and pensions. The extent of the parallelism and cross-influence is reviewed from the issue of the Papal Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII Rerum Novarum (1891) and from the founding of the ILO in 1919. This book is intended to appeal to lay, professional and academic alike, and will be of interest to researchers and academics working in the areas of international human rights, theology, comparative philosophy, history and social and political studies. On 4 January 2021 it was granted an Imprimatur by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool, Malcolm P. McMahon O.P., meaning that the Catholic Church is satisfied that the book is free of doctrinal or moral error. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgements Chapter 1 Introduction The bond Reinterpretation and hindsight Work – an essential dimension of social life Other expressions of faith Chapter summaries Chapter 2: Catholic Social Teaching in context Chapter 3: Catholic Social Teaching and labour rights Chapter 4: ILO – fundamental principles: Conventions and recommendations Chapter 5: The International Labour Organisation: Origins and Social Catholicism 1919 to 1944 Chapter 6: The Holy See and the ILO 1946 to 2020 Chapter 7: Common pathways A note on style and sources Context Bibliography The Holy See Encyclicals, Apostolic letters, Exhortations (in chronological order) Other materials (in chronological order) International Labour Organisation International Labour Conferences Reports (in chronological order) Other materials (in chronological order) Secondary sources Chapter 2 Catholic Social Teaching in context Introduction Catholic Social Teaching – An outline Sources Continuing relevance CST and the State Opposition to socialism and communism Neither ideology nor blueprint CST and Human Rights Fundamental differences between CST and secular human rights theory Human rights in the Social Encyclicals Justitia et Pax Conclusions Appendix Bibliography The Holy See Encyclicals, Apostolic letters, Exhortations (in chronological order) Other materials (in chronological order) International Labour Organisation International documents Secondary sources Chapter 3 Catholic Social Teaching and labour rights Introduction CST and labour rights – the beginning: Pope Leo XIII and Rerum novarum (1891) 19th-century origins of Social Catholicism: Forerunners and pioneers Rerum novarum: Significance and continuing influence Unintended consequences? CST and the fundamental principles of the ILO Association and collective bargaining Wages and conditions in work Wages Working conditions Social security Child labour Forced labour and slavery Conclusions Bibliography The Holy See Encyclicals, Apostolic letters, Exhortations (in chronological order) Other materials (in chronological order) International Labour Organisation International documents Secondary sources Chapter 4 ILO – Fundamental principles: Conventions and recommendations Introduction “Vivre en ce monde sensible” ILO: Fundamental principles What are these fundamental principles? Association and collective bargaining Organisation and non-interference Collective bargaining Discrimination Committee on Freedom of Association The right to strike Wages and working conditions Adequate living wage Equal pay Minimum wage Discrimination Working conditions: scope Working environment Vocational training Violence and harassment Social security The years 1919 to 1944 Measures taken in 1944 Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention 1952 (C102) Rights-based approach Social protection floors Child labour Forced labour Conclusions Bibliography The Holy See Encyclicals, Apostolic letters, Exhortations (in chronological order) International Labour Organisation Conventions and recommendations International Labour Conferences (in chronological order) Reports (in chronological order) Other materials (in chronological order) International documents Secondary sources Chapter 5 The International Labour Organisation – Origins and Social Catholicism, 1919 to 1944 Introduction Albert Thomas – pioneer Social, economic and political context: The year 1919 ILO: a beacon of hope ILO Constitution 1919 and the Declaration of Philadelphia 1944 Commission on International Labour Legislation and the “Phelan Memorandum” ILO Constitution 1919 Tripartism Declaration of Philadelphia 1944 Origins and Social Catholicism The ILO, the Holy See and Catholic organisations Albert Thomas: diplomatic initiatives 1926 to 1932 Death of Albert Thomas – the curtain falls Christian trade unionism and the ILO “Not rewarded as they had deserved” The Jesuit presence at the ILO Conclusions Bibliography The Holy See Encyclicals, Apostolic letters, Exhortations (in chronological order) Other materials (in chronological order) International Labour Organisation Conventions and recommendations International Labour Conferences (in chronological order) Reports (in chronological order) Other materials (in chronological order) International documents Secondary sources Chapter 6 The Holy See and the ILO 1946 to 2020 Introduction The shift to human rights The immediate post-War years: 1946 to 1963 Pope Pius XII and a threshold crossed Pope St John XXIII introduces the ILO into the Magisterium Under-representation of the Christian trade unions resolved Address of Pope St Paul VI to the 53rd Session of the ILC 1969 Address of Pope St John Paul II to the 68th Session of the ILC 1982 ILO Commemoration of the Centenary of Rerum novarum 1991 Commentaries on the work of the ILO made by the Holy See through its Observers Commentaries in context Endorsement Dialogue Poverty Rural workers and migrants Employment Vocational training Child labour Environment Pope Francis’ messages to the ILO Conclusions Bibliography The Holy See Encyclicals, Apostolic letters, Exhortations (in chronological order) Other materials (in chronological order) International Labour Organisation Conventions and recommendations International Labour Conferences (in chronological order) Reports (in chronological order) Other materials (in chronological order) International documents Secondary sources Chapter 7 Common pathways Introduction The Decent Work Agenda Laborem exercens and the four fundamental principles of Decent Work (a) freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining (b) the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour (c) the effective abolition of child labour (d) the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation Decent Work Agenda and the Observers of the Holy See Pope Benedict XVI – Caritas in veritate The Future of Work Initiative “Sustainable Development and the Future of Work in the Context of the Jubilee of Mercy” 2016 ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work 2019 Common pathways Conclusions Bibliography The Holy See Encyclicals, Apostolic letters, Exhortations (in chronological order) Other materials (in chronological order) International Labour Organisation International Labour Conferences (in chronological order) Reports (in chronological order) Other materials (in chronological order) International documents Secondary sources Chapter 8 Afterword Bibliography The Holy See Encyclicals, Apostolic letters, Exhortations (in chronological order) International Labour Organisation International Labour Conferences Other materials Secondary sources Index "This book explores the extent of parallelism and cross-influence between Catholic Social Teaching and the work of the world's oldest human rights institution, the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Sometimes there is a mutual attraction between seeming opposites, who in fact share a common goal. This book is about just such an attraction between a secular organisation born of the political desire for peace and justice, and a metaphysical institution much older founded to bring peace and justice on earth. It examines the principles evident in the teachings of the Catholic Church and in the secular philosophy of the ILO; together with the theological basis of the relevant provisions of Catholic Social Teaching and of the socio-political origins and basis of the ILO. The spectrum of labour rights covered in the book extends from the right to press for rights, i.e., collective bargaining, to rights themselves - conditions in work - and on to post-employment rights in the form of social security and pensions. The extent of the parallelism and cross-influence is reviewed from the issue of the Papal Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII De Rerum Novarum (1891) and from the founding of the International Labour Organisation in 1919"-- Provided by publisher Catholic social justice in context -- Catholic social justice and labour rights -- ILO-fundamental principles : conventions and recommendations -- The International Labour Organisation : origins and social catholicism, 1919 to 1944 -- The Holy See and the ILO, 1946 to 2020 -- Common pathways