Letter from Spanish Branch regarding Governing Body's decision (page 2)

MissingLink

Anyone know how to find the legal ruling that pensions were required in Spain?

compound complex

Church may be forced to pay millions

BY JESS WISLOSKI

and ADAM LISBERG

DAILY NEWS WRITERS

A 46-year-old woman who devoted her life to the Jehovah's Witnesses said she was forced to move from their Brooklyn compound after she was seriously injured while serving the church.

But a judge's ruling this week that she is entitled to worker's compensation payments could end up costing the church millions of dollars.

Brenda Upton and her husband, Michael, took a vow of poverty and moved to the Witnesses' Brooklyn headquarters in 1998 to work as chiropractors for other church members.
She injured her spine while running to catch a bus at an upstate church compound later that year.

"They take wonderful care of you up to a point, and then you're on your own," Upton said. "That's why we wound up going to court."
She said she suffered debilitating nerve injuries that have left her barely able to carry a laundry basket. The church took care of her medical care until 2001, when she and her husband were asked to leave and were given a $79,000 stipend.

But Workers' Compensation Law Judge Stephen Goldstein ruled Wednesday that Upton is entitled to $400 a week in workers' compensation payments.

"I'm finding they were not religious volunteers," Goldstein said. "They were engaged, particularly Dr. Brenda Upton, in a number of work-like activities."

The Witnesses vowed to appeal the ruling, saying Upton and the other 5,800 Witnesses who live and work in the church's New York operations are volunteers, not employees.

But if the decision stands, the Witnesses - and other religious organizations - could potentially face millions of dollars in workers' compensation insurance premiums and payments, said church lawyer John Miller.
"It'll pretty much put religious orders out of business," Miller said. "It would certainly impact whether we would ever want to continue operations" in New York.

The church owns about 40 properties in downtown Brooklyn and has plans to build a huge new structure on a vacant lot.

Miller would not speculate how the workers' compensation case would affect those plans.
"We don't have a spiritual conflict," said Upton, who has moved with her husband to Washington State.

"Our problem all along has been medical-legal. We are still active Jehovah's Witnesses."

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/scandals/105169/1/Real-BIG-news-WTS-sued-biggie-worker-compensation

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Nosferatu

The Spanish Government recently ruled that all Bethalites are entitled to a pension after having worked at Bethel for many years. The ruling of the Government sent the Governing Body scrambling. The Governing Body basically decided to just stop all operations in Spain, dismiss almost all Bethalites, and send all printing equipment out of the country.

...and THAT is Jehovah's loving Organization. Too materialistic to show their appreciation for their workers.

restrangled

I so wish this would happen in the U.S. Those old GB members are doted upon until their death, but not anyone else who gave their entire lives to that outfit. So many thrown to the streets with a small stipend or nothing at all.

Kind of reminds me of the Nazi regime...use, abuse, and then out when you are no longer useful. Most lived and worked like slaves.

Come to think of it, most of the GB have always been old Germans until recent years.

r.

sammielee24

The Spanish Government recently ruled that all Bethalites are entitled to a pension after having worked at Bethel for many years. The ruling of the Government sent the Governing Body scrambling. The Governing Body basically decided

The date on the letter is April 1 - I thought it was an April fools joke!

If not - could someone please tell me where the court ruling can be found and if it applies to all those Bethelites already gone or what date the ruling became effective. This ruling may be used to help in pensions and benefits for all those Bethelites in the USA as well....sammieswife.

BurnTheShips

I for one, vote we invite the GB members for the retirement ceremony and have a Pamplona style corrida through the mothballed printeries!!!!

Arriba ESPANA!

BTS

dozy

I know if I was a Spanish JW that I would be furious at the move - the WTS refused to pay for the Bethel so the Spaniards had to raise all the money themselves.

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w843/1pp.9-11Spain’sWilling-HeartedOnesDothe“Impossible”

For more than 30 years the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., had gladly financed the preaching work in Spain without any repayment. But because of heavy expenditures, due to expansion at the Brooklyn headquarters at that time, it was impossible for the Society to finance new Bethel facilities in Spain. If Spain was to have a new branch complex, the Spanish Witnesses would have to finance it themselves. This was a new challenge of much greater proportions than anything previously faced in the Spanish field. In fact, it seemed impossible that the Spanish brothers, with their relatively low wages, could donate sufficient funds to cover the cost of this enterprise.

But you may recall what was done when the Israelites of Moses’ day were privileged to build a tabernacle for Jehovah’s worship. Moses had said to the Israelites: “From among yourselves take up a contribution for Jehovah. Let every willing-hearted one bring it as Jehovah’s contribution.” They voluntarily gave gold, silver, precious stones and other items. (Exodus 35:5-9) Similarly, the issue was squarely put to the 751 congregations in Spain. The need was clearly explained at the 1980 district conventions all over the country. What was the response?

At the close of the conventions, people were lining up to contribute their jewels, gold and silver rings and bracelets, so that these could be turned into cash to finance the new project. At the convention in San Sebastián in the Basque country, an elderly sister handed over a heavy gold bracelet. When asked if she was sure that she wanted to donate such a valuable item, she answered: “Brother, it is going to do far more good paying for a new Bethel than it will on my wrist!”

A young couple contributed money they had planned to use for their honeymoon travel. An older sister brought in a pile of damp and musty banknotes that she had stashed away under the floor of her home over the years.

As the weeks passed by, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, contributed with a willing heart so that Spain could have the needed new Bethel facilities. Even special pioneers, who receive only a limited monthly allowance, made contributions. For example, one couple sacrificed a trip to the United States and donated their ticket money. Children also sent their contributions to the branch office. One ten-year-old stated: “I am the firstborn of five children, and we have heard the suggestion about sending money for the new Bethel. We would like to contribute what we have saved in our money box. Although it is a small amount, we believe it will serve to buy something.”

Young people also organized themselves in different ways in order to earn money they could send to the Society. Some made little dolls and sold them. One collected sawdust from carpentry shops and then sold it. One youngster who was saving to buy a guitar donated the money for the Bethel project.

I can't believe they would do such a thing.........well...maybe I can.

yesidid

Letter from Spanish Branch regarding Governing Body's decision