Związki zawodowe w świetle nauczania społecznego Kościoła

Abstract

The social teachings of the Catholic Church on trade unions is based on the teachings of several popes of recent times, including Leo XIII, Pius XI, Pius XII, John XXIII and John Paul II, later developed by social thinkers. According to the Catholic social doctrine, a trade union can be defined as an autonomous association of workers aimed at the good of working people by protecting their interests, by allowing them to participate in the activities of their company, branch and community, and by shaping their moral and social attitudes. Therefore, the basic features of a trade union include ergatocentrism, independence and self-government. The first means a focus of attention on the working person (from the Greek word ergatos meaning “worker”). The second is lack of pressure from other institutions of social life that might compromise the independence of workers’ associations. The self-government of trade unions can be described as their ability to perform statutory duties that streamline and regulate internal organisational matters. As the social teachings of the Church provide, trade unions perform revindicative, participative and educational functions. The last consists in shaping moral and professional attitudes as well as conducting various educational and cultural activities. The documents which define the Church’s social doctrine refer to the most characteristic methods of trade union operation with special attention to the three fundamental principles of social life – subsidiarity, common good and solidarity. These include negotiations, industrial action and propaganda. It must be noted that the Church stresses negotiations as that method of trade union operation which best serves social partnership as well as cooperation between employees and employers, thus contributes to social dialogue and hence to common good.