The Christian Trade-Union Movement

Abstract

CHRISTIAN trade unionism in Belgium dates from December 1886. Until that time, Belgian workers were united in trade unions without any distinction as to creed. These unions were economically neutral and fairly similar to the British trade unions. However, the Socialists introduced into the labor movement revolutionary and materialistic Marxism and succeeded in seizing the direction of the existing trade unions in order to propagate this doctrine. This proved fatal to the unity of the workers, for many of them disapproved socialism, its doctrine and its methods of excess and violence. The atmosphere of the Socialist-controlled trade unions became intolerable to them, and they were obliged, in conscience, to leave the unions. However, since these workers were trade unionists and were convinced that the improvement of the working class was possible only by an autonomous, collective, and continuous effort of the workers, they formed new trade unions based on national law and moral philosophy. It has been said with reason that socialism is responsible for the resulting division of labor, and that there would not have been Christian trade unions if there had not been Socialist trade unions. The latter are indeed the cause of the former. As indicated by its name, Belgian Christian trade unionism is confessional. This does not mean, however, that a profession of faith is required to become a member of a union. The only condition is that one should comply with the statutes, which stipulate that Christian trade unionism adheres to Christian morals, and that one should not adopt attitudes which are in flagrant contradiction to these morals. So, for instance, it would not be permitted-it would even be a cause of exclusion-that a Christian trade unionist should be a member of the Communist Party. Neither should it be inferred that Christian trade unionism is subject to the religious authorities. Nothing would be more untrue. A temporal movement, Christian trade unionism is autonomous and democratic. It makes its own decisions, in full sovereignty, without any interference from outside, and its leaders are elected by the members, to whom they are accountable for their policies and their action. It should be noted that Christian trade unionism owes its origin not to scholars or to philosophers or to sociologists, most of whom originate from the bourgeoisie, as is the case with socialism.