How Can Unions Fit into Industry-Driven Climate Agreements?
Bob Baugh, executive director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council and co-chair of the AFL-CIO Energy Task Force, has recently returned from Bonn, Germany, where he participated in meetings to ensure that labor’s input contributes to larger United Nations climate change discussions later this year. This report follows up on his first three blogs from Bonn here, here and here.
Climate talks in Bonn have gone slowly. Developing nations have been claiming that developed nations have all the “historic responsibility” for acting on climate change and they have none. At another level, the undercurrent was all about the major diplomatic initiative in Beijing led by Todd Stern, U.S. special envoy for climate. Jonathan Pershing, the U.S. delegation leader, left Bonn to join him in China.
Upon his return to Bonn, Pershing said the discussions had been productive. He said they had discussed the idea of a joint research and development agenda, and although no decisions had been made, “that was to be expected for a first meeting.” It makes sense but the media tended to report it as a disappointment because there was no “breakthrough announcement.” That’s the nature of the high expectations and recognition that the U.S.-China relationship is one of the keys to achieving a global climate agreement.
‘Just Transition’: Putting Meaning to the Words
Bob Baugh, executive director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council and co-chair of the AFL-CIO Energy Task Force, is in Bonn, Germany, for meetings to ensure that labor’s input contributes to larger United Nations climate change discussions later this year. This report follows up on his first two blogs from Bonn here and here.
The 30 international trade unionists here in Bonn, under the umbrella of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), are redoubling efforts to ensure that language calling for a “just transition” to a global green economy is included in the outline of a new climate agreement we’ll discuss at a larger U.N. climate change conference this December in Copenhagen.
In short, the ITUC is calling for commitments to a “just transition” for “sustainable, low-carbon economies as the key to guarantee a socially sustainable outcome.”
‘New Green Deal’ Focus of Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference
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Just weeks after the Obama administration and the new Congress take office—with the economy as the top priority—more than 2,000 union, environmental, business and government activists and leaders will take part in the 2009 Good Jobs Green Jobs National Conference.
The Feb. 4–6 conference in Washington, D.C., is coordinated by the Blue Green Alliance, the partnership of the United Steelworkers (USW), Communications Workers of America (CWA), Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
It will focus on transforming the struggling economy through a wide range of environmental investments in green technology, energy efficiency and renewable energy. Conference organizers say the goal is to develop a “New Green Deal” that would create jobs, increase energy independence, reduce global warming and expand the clean energy and green technology markets.
Senate Candidate Martin Joins Union Phone Bank as Election Approaches
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Just eight days remain to get out the vote in Georgia’s U.S. Senate runoff election between Jim Martin, an ally of working families, and Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a Bush crony who repeatedly has voted against the interests of workers.
Martin, who is campaigning hard around the state, dropped in on the phone bank at the Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 613 union hall in Atlanta for a visit last week. Jimmy Hyde, Labor 2008 director for Georgia, reports that Martin phone banked alongside hardworking union volunteers.
Martin…reiterated to everyone how important and meaningful the work we are doing is. Martin acknowledged that we need the labor movement to win this election and that union volunteers reaching out to their brothers and sisters during the phone banks, worksite leaflets, labor walks, and through local union mail are going to make the difference.
Georgia’s union members are mobilized around the state to get out every vote in this critical election.
