We will know we are making some headway with promoting working class vocations when clergy are as likely to understand how shift work, zero hours and gig economy jobs work, as they are to understand how salaried jobs work. And organise the life of their churches accordingly.
As a Union Rep for the Faithworkers Branch of Unite can I remind that clergy have to work without many of the protections in law that employees have. I have had to deal with more cases of injustice and bullying of Clergy in my 22 years than I can remember.
When I worked in retail from 21-30, very few people in Church understood the reality of it, tbh. Even working in an office as non-management, I had to spell out why I couldn’t be unpaid SSM in the week. “Because I’m not independent wealthy or retired?” “Oh.” We have a very long way to go.
Today I have been walking a clergy colleague through why "but surely they can just book annual leave if something is important enough?" fails to take account of the reality of many people's working conditions.
Yes! At JL we had to book all our leave bar five days at the beginning of the year, and the five days you saved for emergencies like doctors appointments etc. My current workplace is more flexible but I still can’t always take a day off at the drop of hat.
I’ve realised the ordination retreat will be during our blackout period for holiday due to financial year end 😬 I guess I may just have to miss it.
Working a shift/gig/zero hours job is much more complex, but the challenges even as someone at the lower end of office roles that weren’t really understood didn’t encourage me. I hope I can be the difference to someone else on their vocations journey one day.