The Trade Union Response to Climate Change

Institute of Employment Rights 23/10/07

Caroline MolloyTUC Greenworkplaces Project Leader

Trade Unions – Part of the Solution The power of collective action Organising members round area of growing

concern Healthier workplaces & cleaner communities Sustainable jobs – rising energy costs Environmental justice, including justice between

the generations, international angle, fuel poverty A ‘just transition’ to a low carbon economy

‘Greenworkplace project’ aims (1) Build capacity amongst union members to

tackle climate change In 6 pilot workplaces:

Increase energy & climate change awareness of union members (and potential members)

Cut energy use & CO2 emissions (actual and/or projected), changing behaviour and technical issues

Identify and train environmental reps

Aims (2) Give them space and structure to define the

key issues and begin to tackle them Enable them to measure energy and carbon

savings Build on existing Carbon Trust work –

implementation, behaviour vs capital investment

Negotiate towards framework agreements

Who were the key participants? Funded by the Carbon Trust Overseen by a steering group made up of

TUSDAC members, chaired by Paul Noon 6 workplaces – British Museum, TUC

(London), DEFRA (York), Scottish Power, Corus (Wolverhampton), Friends Provident (4 sites)

How did we set up the projects? Selected organisations Met union reps, officials and management Surveyed workforce Held open days/events with local groups 1 day training (plus half day follow up) Carried out ‘energy audits’ Produced materials & showed films Negotiated for bargaining structures

Outcomes (1) “The most interest we’ve ever had in a union event –

people were queuing 5 deep throughout.” – Friends Provident steward after lunchtime stall

Management recognised importance of union involvement – eg 25% of workforce attended BM event compared to 5% typical for management-led initiatives.

Around 15 reps, mostly new, trained, and 100% positive feedback from courses

Facilities time achieved, reps able to get management to measure/report on carbon and energy for first time – eg DEFRA

Outcomes (2) TUC – cut night time energy use in half, cut waste

to landfill by 40%, agreed new solar thermal system Audits undertaken by reps following training – BM

saved 7% of electricity use in 1 year, agreed new low carbon wing

New bargaining structures (ie joint environmental committees) & framework agreements established or worked towards,

Links established between unions and local community groups (FOE etc)

Lessons from the pilot projects (1)

Huge organising potential for unions Union input vital to achieve ‘green’ goals Most organisations can save 20% of energy

with simple low cost measures & behaviour change

Need for early wins to sustain momentum

Lessons from the pilot projects (2) Reps want to look at ‘what’ the workplace

does, not just ‘how’ it does it Grassroots-initiated projects work best Need buy-in at all levels (organisation &

union) Other issues arise – water, waste, transport Time off & statutory rights for reps crucial ‘Fair shares’?

Next steps (1)… Sample surveys, ‘how to run open days’ and

further guidance for environment reps available on website www.sustainableworkplace.co.uk

Unions & Environment courses eg South Thames College 14-16 November, Darlington 6-8 December, Exeter 19th Feb 2008 – online course to be launched at end of the year

UMF – support for further 10-15 projects starting January 2008

Next steps (2) Issues that can be part of an environmental agreement

– negotiating rights and facilities time, travel plans, health and safety especially around workplace temperature, working time, new technology, relocation, catering, and much more

Seminars for officers – Spring 2008 Branch remits & motions – esp. on union internal

policies, environment reps rights Join environment reps discussion at www.unionreps

.org.uk Contact – cmolloy@tuc.org.uk