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‘Sustainable jobs in a green economy:
The role of trade unions and collective
bargaining’
Organising members around climate
change
18th May 2010
Tim Baster
Climate Outreach
Information Network
“If humanity wishes to preserve a
planet similar to that on which
civilization developed and to which
life on Earth is adapted..... CO2 will
need to be reduced from its current
385 ppm to at most 350 ppm.”
James Hansen, Makiko Satoa, B, Pushker Kharechaa, David Beerlingc, Robert Bernerd, Valerie Masson-Delmottee,
Mark Paganid, Maureen Raymof, Dana L. Royerg and James C. Zachosh. June 2008
A question..
Why don’t we have a massive ‘social
justice’ movement for action on
climate change?
Denial and evasion.
•
•
•
•
Denial
‘Retail therapy’
Blame someone else
Downgrade the problem: ‘Its not real
problem’
The views of employers
and trade unionists...
What do employers think?
Findings. March 2010
• Efforts on climate change have stalled over the last
year.
• Public scepticism has crept into business. More than
50% of executives think ‘the jury is still out’ on
climate change.
• PR considerations appear to be the most common
driver of carbon reduction efforts.
• Business has less confidence than ever in the ability
of the Government to deliver a level regulatory field.
Research into what trade unionists think
about climate change. March 2010
What do our members think?
• Ordinary members were more receptive to ‘green’ narratives
than activists, but did not link these issues to the union or the
workplace
• Many members see environmentalists as ‘extremists’
• Members see climate change as a ‘lost opportunity’ for trade
unions in terms of green technology and jobs.
• Unions are not seen as a powerful player in the climate
change debate
• They are attracted to messaging which is optimistic, upbeat
and technologically-positive
From research published by COIN in March 2010
Members think there are two types of
‘environmentalist’. Extremist and genuine.
Values of ordinary members
Values of activist members
A question...
How do we organise members on climate
change?
• This is not an ordinary ‘terms and conditions’
issue
• Employers are cutting jobs and conditions in
order (they say) to ‘cut carbon emissions’
• Many members are in denial about climate
change
Climate Solidarity.
• The Public and Commercial Services Union
(PCS)
• The National Union of Teachers (NUT)
• The Communications Workers Union (CWU)
• The University and College Union (UCU)
and the Climate Outreach Information Network
Climate
Solidarity
• Members getting together at work in ‘Action
Groups’.
• Deciding on a topic to cut carbon emissions in
the their own lives
• Meeting six times. Doing the work of cutting
their collective carbon emissions.
• Transferring what they have learned to
workplaces
Thank you and please invite us
to speak at your workplaces!