On the intertwined strands of justice and dignity in work. Why talk about labor as a matter of faith? Let’s explore together in this season of strikes by writers and actors, delivery drivers, baristas, and proposed state legislation overturning decades/centuries of child labor protections.
Summary:
This sermon examines the evolving ethics of child labor by comparing the speaker’s childhood library job with her husband’s physically demanding work in a pulp mill. Through a historical lens, the speaker traces the shift from viewing children as productive economic assets to recognizing the exploitation inherent in industrial capitalism. The sermon highlights how labor unions were instrumental in advocating for protections, arguing that cheap youth labor suppressed adult wages and created a compliant workforce. Modern concerns are also addressed, specifically regarding recent legislative efforts to roll back safety regulations and the discovery of minors working in dangerous meatpacking environments. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a Unitarian Universalist approach to labor that prioritizes the dignity and safety of all workers while treasuring the future of children.