Overcoming resistance to power sharing

Power is a fundamental necessity for human development. Not only do people have a right to seek power, they have the duty to do so, if some force prevents them from pursuing their full development or promoting the development of persons dependent on them. Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical On Human Work, defends workers' right to seek power by forming unions to defend their vital interests and by striking if necessary. The bishops, through their pastoral letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. Economy, and the National Council of Churches in the United States also affirm this right. A refusal to share power usually means that the power holder perceives the purpose of power as "getting things done" rather than "helping people to grow." Resistance to power sharing can be attributed to three possible attitudes: Management's view that the sharing of power is a "gift" that can be withdrawn at any time; The perception of board members who come from the capitalist system that power sharing does not work; Adherence by management personnel in government to the theory that power holders' authority derives from the will of the people. Human service workers unquestionably can benefit from power sharing. The persons most in need of their services, however, also are powerless and must be considered in any discussion of a potential strike. Withholding services from these groups--the poor, minorities, children, the elderly, and the disabled--can result in a tragic tension, pitting the powerless against the powerless.