Exodus 5:6-8, 19 “That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: ‘You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don ‘t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying’ … The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, ‘You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.’”

Pharaoh was a heartless, cruel leader, and he was street smart. But he was up against God who had power to intervene for the oppressed. This was the beginning of the end for Egypt.

Principle: Abusive labor practices are bad for employee and employers.

Collective bargaining is usually born out of abusive practices. It is a good means of seeking relief from the abuse, asking for fairness, improvement of working conditions, communicating to the powers that be, etc. It may be ineffective first with a tyrannical employer or a greedy industry, but in the long run it will change things and improve the lot of the oppressed worker.

Up until recently, nursing homes were getting punished by jurors with more and more of their own parents in nursing homes and the clock ticking for them as well. Jurors have pushed average compensatory awards in such cases up four times in the past few years. Cases have included beatings, sexual assaults and deaths following dehydration and infection of neglected bedsores. Reckless conduct against the elderly is a grievous act and owners of nursing homes are making staff and procedural corrections to alleviate the problem.

Abusive behavior correction is most effective not from governmental oversight but from employer to employee.

Discussion:

1. Which industries are notorious for worker abuse?

2. What is the outcome if these conditions continue?

3. What alternatives are there?