A Little Help Here -- Heard Something at Work Today about JWs

by Gretchen956 9 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Gretchen956

  Our union rep at work said she was very sure that JWs were not allowed to belong to Unions. Actually I don't belong, but she'd really like to get me to join (I am NOT anti-union, I'm just ambivelent)... Anyways, I have been out for 13 years, but I do NOT remember this being the case, nor do I really remember it being a topic here (please don't post a link, I'd rather just hear the answer!)

  Anyone know whether this is just an urban legend or if it is truly the case? There are a lot of things JWs aren't allowed to do, but this one just sounded like a stretch (I could swear my dad was in a union).

  Sherry
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  Joyzabel

  yes, Gretchin, my dad was in a union back in the 60-70's. It when he became president of the local union that the other members of the service committee told him that wasn't allowed.

  *shrugs*
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  DanTheMan

  never heard that one either, there was an electrical company in my city that at one time employed so many JW's that people referred to it as a JW company, and it was a union shop
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  stillajwexelder

  I knew a number of brothers who were/areunion members - as long as they do not vote or become chairman etc there is no problem as far as the WTBTS is concerned
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  Jahna

  I don't think they are allowed to join willingly, but in many jobs just being employed is being part of a union. While I know most witnesses in that kind of position would be a paying member, they never actually functioned in any union sponsored events, like voting, or strikes.
  
  Jahna
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  Big Dog

  Also as I recall if you belonged to a Union and they went out on strike you couldn't picket, but you could support them. I can remember my uncle talking about making coffee and donut runs for the picketers back in the days of the rubber shop strikes.
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  Odrade

  There is no stigma against being a Union member, unless it is a local thing. In fact, around here, many of the J-dubs go Union for the apprenticeship programs and it is highly recommended. You cannot, however, become a union rep, campaign or vote, as it is considered politics.

  I come from a hard-core JW family and a hardcore, 3 gen Union family. My only credentials. LOL.

  BTW, the latest printed word on the WTS direct stance on belonging to a union was a QFR from 1961 I believe. The rule still stands.
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  Euphemism

  Union membership was allowed, as long you avoided 'political activities':

  w61 128
  
  

  ?

  How should a dedicated Christian Scripturally view labor unions and participation in their activities??S. B., U.S.A.

  The Scriptures counsel Christians to "provide the right things in the sight of all men." "Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith." These texts have a bearing on labor unionism, because to obey them it may be necessary to join a labor union. An analogy might be drawn between one?s duties as a member of a labor union and those he has as a citizen of a country. For benefits received from the government the Christian pays taxes; similarly, he could properly pay union dues, since such would in effect be job insurance. There can, therefore, be no objection to a Christian?s merely belonging to a labor union, paying the dues and heeding the call to stop work in the event of a strike.?Rom. 12:17; 1 Tim. 5:8.

  However, a Christian should not get involved in union activity to the extent of holding an official position in the union. Nor, in the event of a strike, should he take part in picketing or in other ways agitate for the cause of the strike. Above all, he should not engage in violence in labor disputes, for "a slave of the Lord does not need to fight." "If possible, as far as it depends upon you, be peaceable with all men." Just as a Christian is neutral regarding politics and wars of his country, so the union member who is a Christian does not get involved in the governing activities and economic warfare of the union but must remain neutral.?2 Tim. 2:24; Rom. 12:18.
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  talesin

  Specifically, this is what the practice was years ago when I was `in` (70s/80s).

  In Canada, you do not have to be part of the union if you are in a unionized shop. You still have to pay your dues, but you can have them given to a charity instead of to the union. YES IT`S TRUE. I know because I had this done. In that way, you are not part of a union `Organized Labour is BAD`, but can still work in a unionized shop. No picketing duty required, but you also don`t receive strike pay.

  We had a lot of `brothers` who were stevedores as this is a huge port, and that`s how they dealt with the `union issue` back in the day, in this part of the JW world.

  tal

  Note: Regional differences, I see from Odrade`s post above --- here, it was not allowed.
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  Gretchen956

  Thanks, all, most of the replies are pretty much in line with what I thought too. Sounds more like a conscious matter if anything at all and I think the lady is more likely using an excuse to stay out of the union for some reason.

  Sherry