‘Sustainable jobs in a green economy: The role of trade unions and collective bargaining’

Organising members around climate change

18th May 2010Tim Baster Climate OutreachInformation 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!