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Unions Confronting the Climate Crisis

Labor Network for Sustainability - August 22, 2014

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are not the official position of the IWW (or even the IWW’s EUC) and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone but the author’s.

Sean Sweeney of Trade Unions for Energy Democracy and Jeremy Brecher of the Labor Network for Sustainability discuss the significant labor ferment around the climate crisis. Climate change changes everything: everything about how we organize society, how we conduct politics, and how we envision the role of an organized labor movement in society. Sean explains that the transition to an equitable, sustainable energy system can only occur if there is decisive shift in power towards workers, communities and the public. Trade Unions for Energy Democracy is a global initiative to advance democratic direction and control of energy in a way that promotes solutions to the climate crisis, energy poverty, the degradation of both land and people, and responds to the attacks on workers’ rights and protections. Jeremy, author of Unions backing historical Peoples Climate March, argues that a just transition is a matter of elementary justice—it is unfair that workers who through no fault of their own happen to work in jobs that need to be eliminated to achieve a social good should bear the burden of that change by losing their jobs. The environmental movement should have a jobs program of its own, and should not leave the jobs piece up to labor. Likewise, the labor movement should have a climate program of its own, rather than leaving climate protection up to the environmental movement. Both movements need to begin to internalize how their missions are intertwined. The September 21st Peoples Climate March is demanding a world with an economy that works for people and the planet; a world safe from the ravages of climate change; a world with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities. Listen at: http://www.equaltimeradio.com/2014/unions-confronting-the-climate-crisis

Connecticut Unions Back Peoples Climate March

Eight Connecticut labor organizations, including the state AFL-CIO, have endorsed the People’s Climate March in New York City on :

  • 32BJ SEIU CT
  • American Federation of Teachers – CT
  • CT AFL-CIO
  • CT Education Association
  • CT State Council SEIU
  • Council 4 AFSCME
  • CT State Council of Machinists
  • United Auto Workers Region 9A

Labor support has also helped win wide support from Connecticut public officials, who have encouraged Metro-North to provide discounted tickets and extra capacity on trains from Connecticut to New York for the Peoples Climate March.

The Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, a partnership between the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network (IREJN) and the CT AFL-CIO, will hold a press conference at  Noon, Tuesday, September 2 with Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy and other elected officials, to promote the March. Launched in June, 2012 with support from the Labor Network for Sustainability, the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs is an innovative partnership that seeks to strengthen collaboration among Connecticut’s labor, environmental, and religious groups in advocating for public policies that address urgent concerns about climate change while creating good-paying jobs.

The Fine Print I:

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The Fine Print II:

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