Boston College unions are protesting the University’s reluctance to sign any contract that does not provide a cost-saving initiative. Boston College has done a remarkable job securing the jobs of union workers during these challenging economic times. The administration has avoided the layoffs that have plagued even prestigious schools such as Harvard and Stanford. Additionally, the University has succeeded in keeping the base pay and benefits, including those regarding health and dental care, of its employees remarkably consistent.
The founding Catholic document concerning the labor relationship between the employer and employee is Rerum Novarum, written by Pope Leo XIII in 1891. In paragraph 20 of Rerum Novarum, the Catholic Church declares that the employer has an obligation to allow his or her employees to pursue their respective religious duties and, furthermore, to pay them what is just. The definition of “what is just” is open to interpretation, but we believe overtime pay in excess of $30 to be more than just.
Rerum Novarum also places restrictions on unions, charging them with the duty of protecting the jobs of their constituents. Unions that put the jobs of its constituents at risk simply to pursue one added incentive may be running afoul of this sentiment. The University must, and will, ultimately achieve the cutbacks needed for financial solvency. The only question is whether these cutbacks will come from layoffs or cost-saving initiatives. In an economic downturn, paying $40 per hour per employee to clean Alumni Stadium is a recipe for fiscal disaster barring yet another tuition increase.
We commend Boston College for keeping tuition constant. Students who sign the petition against the University’s bargaining practices would often be the same ones decrying another tuition hike. As more and more BC families need relief from tuition, it is important that small cutbacks are not confused with cataclysmic changes in policy.
The unions must realize that cutbacks are inevitable in any economic downturn. The administration prefers for these cutbacks to take the form of overtime pay and not layoffs. Boston College is not asking for a cut in base pay nor benefits, making it hard for any union to make the case that their workers are being treated unjustly. Given this mindset, it is incredible that the University is being demonized by leftist groups for trying to save jobs. We believe the present changes proposed by BC offer the most satisfying solution to the situation at hand in the present economic climate for all parties involved, tuition payers and union workers alike, and for this reason, we applaud the University for its efforts to both preserve jobs and protect students from an increased financial burden.
