In response to the economic recession, the Catholic church in India is calling for more church intervention in labor unions. The church's labor arm, the Kerala Labor Movement, said in a letter that blame for the economic crisis falls on wealthy western countries, the selfishness of a few, materialism, and a governmental shift away from the welfare state. The Kerala aims to empower workers and is seeking to establish arms in each Catholic parish. The letter went on to note that ?all workers should be organized? and described forms of self-help, such as credit unions, that the movement can help develop. The message did not support strikes that would stall productivity, but emphasized the dignity of all work.
See "Church demand for say in labour unions irks Left", Ananthakrishnan G, Times of India, April 26, 2009