Socialist Resistance : SR48 - October 2007

Eco-Socialism

Build February 9 trade union conference

Trade unionists mobilise against Climate Change
Bob Whitehead

It is a long time since the role of trades unions was confined to “wages and conditions”, while leaving wider matters to direct political representation.

Health and Safety, discrimination on grounds of gender, race, disability and sexual orientation might be considered to come under the former heading, but war, jobs themselves, privatisation and outsourcing have become routine matters for trades unionists. Political funds, for unions that have them, have not only been used to fund the Labour Party, but also for direct campaigning from the unions themselves. Witness the contributions to “Unite against Fascism”, for example.

But now, an even greater issue is looming over us; the environment in general and the causes and effects of global warming in particular. We cannot remain silent on these matters.

Global warming can be a difficult and divisive issue for us. Some workers in the power, aviation and car industries are daily obliged to add to carbon dioxide production, while many others suffer the consequences of intolerably hot workplaces. The workers in other countries face even worse problems in terms of flooding and violent extremes in the weather. So it is vital that we discuss and develop a united response to the problem.

The overwhelming majority of scientists link the rise in the Earth’s temperature of 0.6 degrees over the last century or two to the impact of the industrial revolution. Their forecasts for the future of a further rise of up to 6 degrees in a relatively short time span could be catastrophic for life on this planet. We must have something to say on the way the economy needs to be changed to avert more disasters such as hurricane Katrina.

As George Monbiot has illustrated in “Heat”, the professional sceptics can, as often as not, be traced back to oil company sponsorship. Trades-unionists are familiar with the misinformation and devious tactics used by employers, and should press ahead with the assumption that the environment is too important to be left to them or their spokespeople; we must develop our own perspectives and priorities.

But how can we protect jobs, wages and conditions, while pointing out the harmful effects of the plane, the car and fossil fuel burning? What is our answer to the stated intention of the Brown government to go for an expansion of nuclear power? How can we ensure that our ideas and concerns are taken seriously by the New Labour friends of big business? On February 9 2008, we will have the opportunity to meet and discuss a united response to the threat of global warming, in particular.

The Campaign against Climate Change Trade Union Conference will be open to delegates from all unions and will be held in the University of London Union, from 11am to 5pm. There will be workshops to maximise the input and discussion from ordinary trades unionists as well as key note speakers.

Trade unionists have an interest in countering the greatest threat to our conditions of all, the destruction of the natural environment by its ruthless exploitation by big business. Please commit your union, at whatever level, to sponsor or attend this important conference. For further information or to get involved in planning the conference please contact: roywilkes59(AT)talktalk.net

Bob Whitehead

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