Media Release 24 July 2009

Southern Cross University Staff today applauded the reaching of a landmark Environmental Sustainability agreement. The in principle agreement, reached between Southern Cross University and the Community and Public Sector Union on behalf of University General Staff, will be incorporated into the new Enterprise Agreement that is currently under negotiation.

The Agreement, the most comprehensive and enforceable provision so far negotiated in Australia, provides for:

• A broad Environmental Sustainability Working Party to drive policy development, environmental auditing and target setting on carbon emissions, water and energy
• Reducing carbon emissions through flexible travel and car-pooling
• Comprehensive training and education for staff on energy efficiency, transport, waste and water use
• Protection for staff to raise environmentally damaging practices

Community and Public Sector Union Southern Cross University President Ms Toni Ledgerwood said “Environmental sustainability was a key claim raised by Union members in the lead up to negotiating a new Enterprise Agreement at SCU. The CPSU welcomes the positive University response to the eagerness of staff to tackle the urgent danger of global warming.”

Ms Ledgerwood added “The CPSU held a “Low Carbon Workplace” forum in July and has circulated an Environmental Sustainability Pledge for staff to sign and show their support for decisive action on climate change. The in principle Environmental Sustainability agreement between the Union and SCU is the start of the whole University community working together. We are proud to be working at a University providing national leadership on the issue that will dominate our future as well as our children’s.”

ABC coverage here.

All trade unionists are welcome!

Time: 6.30pm Thursday August 6

Venue: Public Service Association, 160 Clarence Street, Sydney (near the north end of Queen Victoria Building, check out a map here).

Speaker: Arthur Rorris, Secretary of the South Coast Labour Council

Recently, the South Coast Labour Council, in collaboration with a research team at the University of Wollongong, won endorsement and financial backing for the Green Jobs Illawarra initiative, seeking to transform the region’s carbon exposed heavy industrial base into an engine room for new green jobs.

But what will these jobs and the ‘new green economy’ look like for workers?  In a recent interview, Canadian Indigenous activist Clayton Thomas Muller commented on how groups

“talk about green jobs but don’t talk about community self-determination, let alone about ownership… and until we have that conversation we are going to continue to be governed by the same economic power structures that benefit the rich and thrive on the backs of indigenous people, communities of colour, and workers.  When we talk about a “green economy” we need to ask what that really means. Do we imagine that British Petroleum and Shell and Exxon will be giving us those dream jobs? Do we mean “green” Wal-Mart jobs?”

Agenda:

• TUCANS projects discussion groups session: worker’s conference; website; green organising workshop; daytime meeting/seminar; Climate Camp ‘09
• Hear from Arthur Rorris, Secretary of the South Coast Labour Council

For more details contact Holly 0417 682 541 / hollycreenaune@gmail.com or David 0411 029 172 / mcgill.david@abc.net.au

Resources: you might like to check out these two resources from the South Coast Labour Council:

• Green Jobs Illawarra Project Flyer
• Power to the People: Building Sustainable Jobs in the Illawarra Report

Please forward this invitation to any unionist you think would be interested in attending.

What is TUCANS?

TUCANS (Trade Unionists Climate Action Network Sydney) is a network of unionists that includes rank-and-file workers, elected officials and organisers, who have come together to take action to promote climate justice, and work with environmental justice groups to build a low-carbon economy.

We have come together as the inequitable consequences of climate change hit home. Working families are already feeling the effects of climate change, paying the price of long running droughts, un-seasonal floods and other catastrophic environmental events. Our near neighbours are also feeling the effects of climate change with rising sea levels impacting on the future of their communities.

www.unionistsclimateaction.wordpress.com/

By Gaurav Gupta

July 23, 2009

From the Sydney Morning Herald

In Mumbai, where I live, is an affront to the senses, yet through the filthy living conditions, a resilient social fabric – somehow – thrives. Returning to Sydney is a welcome break from the chaos and makes me feel privileged to have grown up in such a clean, well-functioning environment. But climate change makes me wonder if the privilege is not a burden, or at least a responsibility.

Carbon dioxide is insidious pollution; without odour, taste or colour, it diabolically causes global harm at limited personal cost. In Australia, signs of more than a century of past carbon pollution are everywhere, from the energy-intensive construction and maintenance of heavily concreted and bricked cities to the vast network of roads, bridges and pavements, often serving just a few hundred people. All of it has been possible because of cheap energy from fossil fuels, especially brown coal. Australia is anything but a clean country.

Workers at the Vestas Wind Turbine factory on the Isle of Wight (UK) have occupied their factory. They are fighting for 600 jobs and the future of the planet.

Send messages of support to savevestas@gmail.com

You could encourage your own trade union to send a message of support. See messages of support from trade unions here.

Here is the statement of Vesta workers:

“As workers at a wind turbine manufacturer, we were confident that as the recession took hold that green or renewable energy would be the area where many jobs could be created – not lost.

So we were horrified to find out that our jobs were moving abroad and that more than 525 jobs from the Isle of Wight and Southampton were going to be added to the already poor state of island unemployment.

This has sent, and will continue to send, shockwaves of uncertainty through countless families on the island – many of which are being forced to relocate away from the island.

We find this hard to stomach as the government are getting away with claiming they are investing heavily in these types of industry.

By Asbjørn Wahl, Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees

Most problems in society are mainly social and political, even if at first glance they seem purely technical or scientific. This is a hard-earned lesson for the labour and trade union movement.  For example, workplace technology can be developed to serve different interests: the shareholders, the customers, the workers… In the end it is the actual balance of power which decides the solution and who it will benefit.

The threat of climate change is no exception. The solution of this problem requires, among other things, a huge amount of new technology. But the problem isn’t just about technology, it is a genuinely social and political issue. It is decisive, therefore, that the trade union movement develops its own climate change policies. We have to move from a reactive to a proactive position. In the end, it is a question of what kind of society we want to develop.

Facing up to the issues
So far, much of the trade union movement has hesitated when confronted with the problem of climate change, even though this situation has moved on significantly in recent years. There has been a tendency to deny the seriousness of the problem, and there has been some opposition against taking action as a result of a (fully understandable) fear of job losses.

Our first challenge is therefore to face reality. We have to realise the overwhelming scientific proof that climate change is here, that human activities are crucial factors, and that this can be catastrophic. We must realise that the main reason for the problem is the burning of fossil fuel. This means the success factor of any measure is whether or not it contributes to reducing the burning of fossil fuel. The way we live and work will change radically over the coming years either as a result of action, or of inaction. Not to act, or to delay action, is not an option, but will only make consequences worse.

All trade unionists are welcome!

Time: 6.30pm Thursday July 2

Venue: CPSU (Community and Public Sector Union) office, 7th floor, 191-199 Thomas Street, Haymarket (close to Central train station).

Speaker: Geoff Evans (Environmental studies, University of Newcastle)

Geoff has completed a comprehensive study of the Hunter Valley region, talked with hundreds of workers, and is organising with trade unions on just transition strategies for new industries and new jobs.

Geoff says, “A just transition links ecological sustainability with issues of work, equity and social justice. A just transition process recognises the needs of both current and future generations for safe, secure and satisfying jobs… A just transition is needed to ensure that the costs of change do not fall on vulnerable workers and communities.”

Agenda:

• Briefing on just transitions and green jobs opportunities from Geoff Evans
• Sharing and mapping green organising trade unionists are currently doing
• Reportback on planning for green organising workshops and trainings
• Brainstorm and discussion on what TUCANS is keen to work on!

For more details contact Holly 0417 682 541 / hollycreenaune [at] gmail.com or David 0411 029 172 / mcgill.david [at] abc.net.au

Please forward this invitation to any unionist you think would be interested in attending.

What is TUCANS?

TUCANS (Trade Unionists Climate Action Network Sydney) is a network of unionists that includes rank-and-file workers, elected officials and organisers, who have come together to take action to promote climate justice, and work with environmental justice groups to build a low-carbon economy.

We have come together as the inequitable consequences of climate change hit home. Working families are already feeling the effects of climate change, paying the price of long running droughts, un-seasonal floods and other catastrophic environmental events. Our near neighbours are also feeling the effects of climate change with rising sea levels impacting on the future of their communities.

Thursday May 7^th, 6:30pm, FSU, 321 Pitt St.

The Trade Unionists Climate Action Network Sydney invites you to our third meeting on Thursday May 7th. The network was recently created as a space to champion the voices of workers on climate change; and for workers to organise together to take action to stop dangerous climate change and ensure a just climate future.  Rank and file members, delegates and organisers from a range of unions – such as the PSA, ASU, NTEU, Teachers’ Federation, FSU, RBTU, and CPSU – have begun working on climate change issues together.

The network is seeking the support and participation of as many unionists as possible.  It would be fantastic to see new faces, especially members from many different unions.