In Canada in September, 1991, a strike of public service employees was called. Sis. Ann Keating of St. John’s, Newfoundland Ecclesia worked as a public servant for Revenue Canada and refused to join the strikers. The following exchange of letters provided an open testimony to the Truth in these last days.
The following letter was personalized and given to Sis. Ann’s co-workers and the union.
September 2, 1991
Dear (the person’s name):
At this time of strikes in the Public Services I feel obliged to make my position clearer to my fellow employees at Revenue Canada Taxation and union leaders.
In my 28 years in the workforce my conduct has been governed by the principles of Christian discipleship (I am a Christadelphian). Although union dues are deducted involuntarily from me, I have made my position clear to personnel management that should a strike occur I am not permitted to strike and must cross the picket line. My first loyalty is to my Lord and Savior; I will willingly do what is required of me except when it conflicts with the law of God.
Scripture teaches us that God expects us to work for our living, and that the way we dolt is an aspect of our service to Him and to His Son, the Lord Jesus: “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye service (i.e. when you are being watched), as men-pleasers (i.e. to curry favor); but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord and not to men” (Ephesians 6:5-9 see also Col. 3:23-24).
Faithful service for the agreed remuneration is what is expected of the servant of Christ in his everyday occupation. A disciple cannot use pressure in order to force the employer to bow to his demands. If dissatisfied with pay or conditions, the disciple is at liberty to request improvement or to seek more congenial and beneficial employment, however he may not enter into attrition or conflict to obtain his objectives.
The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men (2 Timothy 2:24). I Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7 forbid physical violence. So that, even if the union has a just case and cause for complaint, a disciple cannot disobey the law of Christ!
To the union I say: I agree that! do not fight for the benefits which you say you obtain for us all. I can only say that if therefore, the powers that be care to withhold them from me,! shall not complain. The right of a union to call an official strike is protected by law. But the rights of an employee who genuinely objects on grounds of conscience or other deeply held personal or religious conviction is also protected by our charter of rights.
To my co-workers I say: I am sorry that perhaps I did not stress strongly and clearly enough that I have to obey the command of my Lord before the commands of men. The coercion, the veiled threats and the suggestions of what my future will hold in the work place have been sadly noted and! can only say that you now know “Whose I am and whom! serve.”
Sincerely,
Ann Keating
cc: Department of Labor
Revenue Canada Taxation, Management: St. John’s & Ottawa
Revenue Canada Taxation, St. John’s Employees
Public Service Alliance of Canada
Evening Tele gram (Sis. Keating’ s letter was published verbatim in the daily paper.)
Public Service Alliance of Canada
September 6, 1991
To: Ann Keating
From: Eileen Hickey, President, Local 90000
Re: Your letter of September 2, 1991
This is to advise you that your religious beliefs will be respected. It is understood that you will not be participating in the upcoming strike.
When you report for work, please present this letter to the picket captain on duty. You will then be treated in the same manner as excluded and designated personnel.
In Solidarity,
(signed) Eileen Hickey
Deputy Minister, Labor Canada
October 1, 1991
Dear Ms. Keating:
On behalf of the Minister of Labor, the Honorable Marcel Danis, I wish to acknowledge receipt of a copy of your recent letter, addressed to Revenue Canada Taxation Management, stating your position during the strike involving the Public Service.
Your Correspondence has been referred to the appropriate departmental officials for their attention.
Sincerely,
(signed) Joan O’ Flaherty, Office of the Deputy Minister
Highlights of a letter from Sis. Keating
Dear Don and Ellen,
…The union used scare tactics — your name would be plastered up, home attacked, no future when you came back to work, etc…I was called into my manager’s office and was assured that they would do everything they could for me. The head of the union was extremely co-operative.
But as you can imagine, it did not end there…The strike started on the Monday and I came in and was waved through the picket line upon presentation of my letter — management had a harder time, and the casuals who had to cross had to wait for a police escort…Any employees who were willing to come in were to be brought in and paid even if there was no work for them to do. I sat alone in an office for 150 people and was told to amuse myself– read, knit, whatever. (I did manage to knit three sweaters.) My being alone and not working caught the attention of others passing through the area and I found myself explaining the situation and had the opportunity to give Heralds to four people who expressed an interest…On the third day of the strike they declared themselves hostile and I was told to line up with the others and await a police escort and I would be given no trouble. I wasn’t, but I still had to stand in rain and cold some mornings for over an hour listening to chanting, etc. and wishing I was elsewhere.
When the strike was finally over, I experienced a variety of reactions –from being ignored, to hostility, to a few (who knew me best as they sat next to me) who were normal. I kept in the background and now , I am happy to say, all is fine .. it was not something I would like to go through again. I certainly do have their respect, but I had to keep bringing scripture to mind, in particular my son’s comment -”think of Daniel, Mom!” Dare to be a Daniel…
How wonderful to have the love and prayers of the brethren with me at that time…
Your sister,
Ann Keating
Excerpts from a letter to the Evening Telegram by a disgruntled striker.
..J would have crossed the line, but it was made clear that there would be violence on the line should anybody attempt it (and in many instances there were, even against designated workers who really had no choice), and there were threats of personal injury and property damage to anyone who defied the union. I was told personally that they “knew where I lived” and “wouldn’t hesitate to burn my house” if I crossed the line…While the strike was on, there were several “goon squads” making the rounds of the picket lines so that people who needed attention would not recognize their attackers…
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One