Answer question #1 of the Johnstown Foundry, Inc. EthicalDilemma (found at the end of Chapter 10) in light of Romans13:1-4.
Ethical Dilemma
Johnstown Foundry, Inc., with several major plants, is one ofthe largest makers of cast-iron water and sewer pipes in the U.S.In one of the nation’s most dangerous industries, Johnstown isperhaps one of the most unsafe, with four times the injury rate ofits six competitors combined. Its worker death rate is six timesthe industry average. In a recent 7-year period, Johnstown’s plantswere also found to be in violation of pollution and emission limits450 times.
Workers who protest dangerous work conditions claim they are“bull’s-eyed”—marked for termination. Supervisors have bulliedinjured workers and intimidated union leaders. Line workers whofail to make daily quotas get disciplinary actions. Managers haveput up safety signs after a worker was injured to make itappear that the worker ignored posted policies. They doctor safetyrecords and alter machines to cover up hazards. When the governmentinvestigated one worker’s death recently, inspectors found theJohnstown policy “was not to correct anything until OSHA foundit.”
Johnstown plants have also been repeatedly fined for failing tostop production to repair broken pollution controls. Three plantshave been designated “high-priority” violators by the EPA. Insidethe plants, workers have repeatedly complained of blurred vision,severe headaches, and respiratory problems after being exposed,without training or protection, to chemicals used in the productionprocess. Near one Pennsylvania plant, school crossing guards havehad to wear gas masks; that location alone has averaged over aviolation every month for 7 years. Johnstown’s “standardprocedure,” according to a former plant manager, is to illegallydump industrial contaminants into local rivers and creeks. Workerswait for night or heavy rainstorms before flushing thousands ofgallons from their sump pumps.
Given the following scenarios, what is your position, and whataction should you take?
- On your spouse’s recent move to the area, you accepted a job,perhaps somewhat naively, as a company nurse in one of theJohnstown plants. After 2 weeks on the job, you became aware of thework environment noted above.
- You are a contractor who has traditionally used Johnstown’sproducts, which meet specifications. Johnstown is consistently thelow bidder. Your customers are happy with the product.
- You are Johnstown’s banker.
d) You are a supplier to Johnstown.
