IBEW Local in Portland, Ore., Goes Green

by James Parks, Feb 12, 2009

Apprentices from Iron Workers Local 29 help put up the steel structure for a solar array at the IBEW union hall in Portland, Ore.

You need look no further than Electrical Workers Local 48 to see the union movement’s commitment to creating good green jobs and protecting our environment.

The Portland, Ore., local is installing a solar array at its union hall. When completed, the all-union project not only will provide 40 percent of the local’s electrical usage for the next 30 years, but also will be used to train members on the design and installation of solar arrays.

Local 48’s project highlights the efforts by the union movement to transform the struggling economy through a range of environmental investments in green technology, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Dave Johnston, a Local 48 business representative, told the Northwest Labor Press:

The solar array will be a showcase for all prospective parties interested in installing their own solar arrays. Future apprentices will be able to see a large solar installation right next door.

Last week, AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD) President Mark Ayers told the Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference in Washington, D.C., that the BCTD is working to ensure that its more than 1,100 training programs create the skilled workforce needed for a clean energy future. BCTD also is working to provide new opportunities to join the middle class for workers in underserved communities, among nontraditional workers and in communities of color.

To ensure that green jobs also are quality jobs, the AFL-CIO has created the Center for Green Jobs. Starting with $1 million from the Working for America Institute, the federation’s workforce and economic development arm, the center will partner with affiliated unions to help pave the way to good union jobs in a variety of the country’s unionized and “green” industries. The center also will spread the lessons of AFL-CIO affiliates that have successfully joined the green economy, especially in manufacturing.

One element of the Green Jobs Center’s work will be a partnership with the National Labor College to develop a “green” certificate program for students of the college. That program will dovetail with the BCTD’s effort  to help construction unions recruit and train ”green workers” for tomorrow’s jobs.

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