Transcript TUC Greenworkplaces Project TUC/Unionlearn Midlands …

The Trade Union Response to
Climate Change
Institute of Employment Rights
23/10/07
Caroline Molloy
TUC Greenworkplaces Project Leader
Trade Unions – Part of the
Solution
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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)
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Build capacity amongst union members to
tackle climate change
In 6 pilot workplaces:
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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)
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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?
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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?
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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)
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“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 managementled 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)
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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)
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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)
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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)…
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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)
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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 – [email protected]