trade unions and environment

SustainlabourInternational Labour Foundation

for Sustainable Development



Trade unions and environment

A selection of cases of trade union engagement on renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, biodiversity and ecosystem protection, public water management, fishery sector, forestry, hotel facility, enhancing research and technical capacity on environmental issues…

Many other examples could be added to this list!!



Trade union engagement: SpainComisiones Obreras (CCOO)

• Creation of ISTAS- Technical Trade Union Institute• Reports on employment generation and renewable

energies. 2008 and 2011 to show evolution of the labour market.

• The first report to assess this link.• Other reports on the relation with employment on

sustainable construction, recycling and waste management, sustainable transportation…

• Advisory and technical assistance to trade unionists• Sustainable mobility plans -industrial zones and cities



United KingdomTrade Union Congress

• Greening Workplaces: dialogue and cooperation between managers and trade unions at the workplace level to reduce GHG emissions, energy consumption and other environmental impacts.

• Public and private sector; manufacturing, services and offices.

• Green Representatives and Green committees at the workplace



Trade union engagement: FranceGrenelle de l’environnement

• Social dialogue on green economy issues: energy production, biodiversity, sustainable construction, oceans… many more.

• Dialogue with government, local authorities, business (large and small), academia, NGOs and others.

• Very good platform to address concerns, share positions, promoting partnerships and capacity building.

• Important weakness: implementation of decisions.



CFDT, French Democratic Confederation of labour

• Joint publication “Biodiversity: Facing society’s challenge” with French Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CES)

• Particular emphasis on the role and participation of social players

• CFDT produced a special issue of their magazine on biodiversity to make trade unions aware of difficulties and opportunities of environmental services, professional mobility in the biodiversity field, relevant government initiatives and to encourage trade unions to take an in-depth look at this issue.

• Creation of an official directory of careers and skills relating to biodiversity and ecosystem services



Trade union engagement: ItalyCILS, CGIL, UIL

• Bipartite agreement on green economy: trade union and business organizations.

• Encourage public investments at national, regional and local level in green sectors for economy recovery, job creation and increase competitiveness of national enterprises in those fields.



Belgian Trade Union Confederations

• The Belgian trade unions ACV, ABVV and ACLVB are active members of the Flemish Environment and Nature Council (Minaraad).

• The council is composed of environment and nature organizations, employer organizations and trade unions.

• From a trade union perspective the socio-economic aspects of nature protection projects are most interesting. Nature conservation rules have often an impact on the economic development policies of companies in areas such as urbanization, permits, etc.

• Most active on issues such as climate policy, air quality, waste and water policies.



European Trade Union Confederation

• Providing a common position to EU decisions on energy, environment (climate) and employment.

• Research of job implications of green economy policies at medium and long term.

• Internationally:– Engagement on Climate Change discussion (under

UNFCCC process). – Supporting EU and other developed countries taking

the leadership and reduce 25-40% emission by 2020 and 85% by 2050.

– Assess job implications of climate change effects and climate change policies and develop a just transition framework for the workforce.



Amazon Rainforest Conference

Actions to promote decent work and green jobs in the forestry and wood sector.

• More than 40 trade union leaders from Brazil, Peru and Venezuela.

• The following areas to achieve social and environmental sustainability in the forestry sector:

• Increasing worker professionalization and training.• Intensification of labour inspection.• Exploring environmental taxation options • Organise workers in the sector, particularly informal workers.• Strengthening tripartite collective agreements and regulate

labour relations..• Promoting public forest areas.• Reduction illegal production



Environmental management in hotel facilities Malaysian Trade Union Confederation

• Practical guide for hotel and tourist accommodation workers.• From environment and occupational health perspective:

– use of chemical products: risks of chemical products on human health and the environment

– water and energy consumption– waste production– Associated risks and the alternatives for acting on them

in the workplace are identified.– Workers’ participation in company environmental

strategies, and the benefits of environmental protection for trade unions, workers and the company itself.

– Existing tools to tackle the environmental management of a company, and their scope.



An alliance with other players in civil society: The RECLAIMING PUBLIC WATER

• The ‘Reclaiming Public Water’ (RPW) network promotes the progressive public and community water management and believes in democratic alternatives to water privatisation and commercialisation.

• Brings together a growing number of NGOs, researchers, community activists, public water operators, trade unionists (public workers ferderation) and community water systems throughout the world.

• The RPW network forms part of the global movement for justice in the water area.

• The network has co-organised regional seminars in Latin America, Europe and Asia.



CUT, United Workers’ Confederation (Brazil)

• Trade union mobilisation in defence of the forests and the communities which live on them.

• In 2011, the CUT participated in campaigns to prevent any backward steps being taken in the Brazilian Forest Code – the main legal instrument for the protection of forests in Brazil.

• In conjunction with social movements (small farmers’ associations, indigenous peoples and environmentalists), the CUT set up the “Rainforest Defence Committee”



PIT-CNT and Union of Seafarers and Allied (Uruguay)

• They claim that the adoption of a new Fisheries Act;• Need to propose solutions to solve the production

problems of the current model of fisheries. • In collaboration with the university they provide

elements that contribute to the design of policy instruments aimed at the design of a new production model

• This model is characterized by over-exploitation that is generating social inequality, poor working conditions and an obstacle to democratic access of Uruguayan society to food resources.

• Due to the use of trawls, about 140 thousand tons of fish are thrown into the sea.



Waste collectors in Uruguay for green and decent jobs

• Organizing: Waste collectors are coming out of marginalization and demanding decent, green jobs.

• Promoting sound waste management, calling for national policy changes, selective collection, productive use of waste, & involving their fellow citizens in the reduction and sorting of waste at the source.



Truck drivers on the Road UGANDA

• Truck drivers have launched a campaign to better understand the changes taking place around them.

• They often transport dangerous cargo - a risk to their health and the environment.

• Knowing more about what is being transported, how to manage waste, calling for occupational health & safety and environment committees.



Fighting climate change, protecting forests and livelihoods in Nepal

• Nepalese workers are committed to fighting climate change by protecting Nepal’s forests and livelihoods, and are taking concrete actions to reduce deforestation.

• For over 30 years Nepalese communities have been working hard to manage their forests and to help protect their environment.



Some conclusions

• Trade unions are engines of change.• Their engagement is key for the transition to cleaner

ways of development for the country.• They bring the Decent Work dimension to the debate:

unique vision on the issue.• Identify opportunities for job creation and specific

measures through social dialogue, collaboration and participation among trade unions, governments and other stakeholders both at policy level and at workplace level.

• All regions and all sectors!

trade unions and environment

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