19 min

Takeaway 3: Treat Labor Well Truce

    • History

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A few months ago I produced two episodes about the Christian roots of American labor unions. And... a bunch of people stopped listening to the show. It turns out that many American Christians are conservative and, therefore, anti-union.
This mini-episode is the counterbalance to that series. Here we discuss the inefficient practices at General Motors in the 1980s. It was an era where GM slipped from holding over 40% of the market share to 17%. What happened? It's a story of unions, gasoline, and the reasons we treat labor well.

Resources used:

“Rude Awakening: The Rise Fall and Struggle for Recovery of General Motors” by Maryann Keller


"Crash Course" by Paul Ingrassia


Discussion Questions:

Do you have a bias for or against labor unions?

Who do you know who is or was in a union? What is their work ethic?

The labor unions in GM in the 1980s were inefficient. Does that make all labor unions inefficient?

Does specialization in factories help or hurt in the long run?

Do you have a bias for employers or employees?

Do you work as unto Christ in your own job?

What is the Christian way to work? To employ someone?


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes!
Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast

A few months ago I produced two episodes about the Christian roots of American labor unions. And... a bunch of people stopped listening to the show. It turns out that many American Christians are conservative and, therefore, anti-union.
This mini-episode is the counterbalance to that series. Here we discuss the inefficient practices at General Motors in the 1980s. It was an era where GM slipped from holding over 40% of the market share to 17%. What happened? It's a story of unions, gasoline, and the reasons we treat labor well.

Resources used:

“Rude Awakening: The Rise Fall and Struggle for Recovery of General Motors” by Maryann Keller


"Crash Course" by Paul Ingrassia


Discussion Questions:

Do you have a bias for or against labor unions?

Who do you know who is or was in a union? What is their work ethic?

The labor unions in GM in the 1980s were inefficient. Does that make all labor unions inefficient?

Does specialization in factories help or hurt in the long run?

Do you have a bias for employers or employees?

Do you work as unto Christ in your own job?

What is the Christian way to work? To employ someone?


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

19 min

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