"If through necessity or fear of a worse evil the workman accept harder conditions because an employer or contractor will afford him no better, he is made the victim of force and injustice."

Rerum Novarum made the Church's position clear re: respecting the dignity of labor over profit while future encyclicals noted that the intransigence of some unions could be doing as much harm as good. Perhaps there is a way forward for "aims-based" unions that can more quickly confirm non-negotiables and current priorities from all members up front, allowing for more rapid resolution in good-faith negotiations while also bringing more frequent dialogue and avoiding the work stoppages nobody wants?

As a Catholic organizer once shared: "We're here to make sure that everyone, rich and poor, has a seat at the table together rather than being forced to fight over any scraps thrown below."