Labor Unions and Environmentalists Collaborate for a More Sustainable Future
Our growing awareness of the health of our planet has led to a surge in the momentum of green jobs, or occupations that contribute to restoring the environment. According to the 2022 UnionCare Act, it is estimated that by 2026, the trend toward energy conservation and environmental sustainability will necessitate between 2.4 million and 2.6 million new jobs.
Green jobs: promise vs. reality
Societal awareness of ecological science is nothing new, but a genuine examination of what a green or ecological economy could look like began in 2006 with the Stern Review. This report, commissioned by the British government, opened up the conversation about transitioning from a linear economy to a circular one by focusing on producing the goods and services in ways that minimally disrupt natural cycles. At the heart of this approach are the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle.
The green economy relies on both public and private investment to create an infrastructure that promotes social and environmental sustainability. This push toward a lower-carbon economy has led to a demand for green careers that support the creation of a sustainable infrastructure. Examples of these types of careers include renewable energy technicians, environmental consultants, and sustainable construction workers.
In 2009, President Obama signed a stimulus package that created thousands of green jobs, and since then millions more have been established to kick-start the low-carbon economy necessary for the planet’s survival. The prospect of creating millions of well-paid jobs that also protect the earth has garnered wide support. With the creation of these positions, however, comes the risk that some jobs may be labeled “green” while offering minimum wages, poor working conditions, and no job security or benefits.
The best way to ensure green jobs are good jobs is for workers to organize in unions, which provide a platform to collectively bargain with employers, thereby securing fair wages, benefits, and safe working conditions.
How unions and environmentalists are working together
Unions and environmentalists have a history of collaboration aimed at protecting both the planet and workers. In 1963, United Steelworkers supported the first federal Clean Air Act. During the 1970s, the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers (OCAW) went on strike against Shell Oil over health and safety concerns. In the early 2000s, timber workers and environmentalists joined forces to protest the overcutting of forests, recognizing their importance for the health of the planet.
In spring 2019, newly elected Member of Congress Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced legislation for a Green New Deal. This program aims to unite labor and environmental movements by demonstrating how good jobs can be created in the global push for clean energy.
In September 2023, environmental groups teamed up with the United Auto Workers (UAW) in response to declining wages for workers at the Big Three automakers — Ford, GM, and Stellantis — to protect jobs during the transition to electric vehicles. More than 150 groups, including Greenpeace and the Sunrise Movement, signed a letter to the CEOs of these automakers, expressing their alignment with autoworkers. These groups also joined workers on picket lines, showcasing solidarity and a shared vision for a sustainable future.
Another recent example is the partnership between the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and environmental groups to push for the Clean Trucks Plan in California. This initiative focuses on reducing emissions from heavy-duty vehicles while promoting the adoption of electric trucks. By working together, the Teamsters and environmentalists aim to protect public health and create well-paying jobs in the clean transportation sector.
We can fight to protect our environment without jeopardizing the right to fair wages and steady employment for those who are doing the necessary labor to make our world more eco-conscious. Labor unions and environmental organizations are stronger when they stand on these issues together.
The path ahead
As the world continues to reckon with the effects of climate change, we will need even more sustainable jobs, and the relationship between labor unions and environmentalists will continue to play a critical role in ensuring these jobs not only are environmentally beneficial but also provide fair wages and working conditions.
One example of this collaborative effort is the BlueGreen Alliance, a coalition of labor unions and environmental organizations working together to expand the number of jobs in renewable energy and improve working conditions across various green industries. The alliance advocates for investments in clean energy infrastructure and green manufacturing and pushes for policies that promote both economic and environmental growth and sustainability.
In transitioning to a more ecologically minded society, there will be an ongoing need for training and education around necessary roles. It is essential to develop programs that equip workers with the skills needed for green jobs, such as solar panel installation and energy-efficient building techniques. Organizations like the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) are already leading the way with training programs that prepare workers for the green economy.
The collaboration between labor unions and green jobs is integral in the process of creating a more sustainable future for the planet and for society. By ensuring that green jobs are good jobs, and by uniting the efforts of workers and environmentalists, we can build an economy that protects both people and the planet.