New report: Unions must 'steward' the green skills agenda (25 June 2012)

A new ‘think piece’ commissioned by unionlearn and written by Capacity Global has outlined the essential role of unions as the stewards of the transition to a green economy. This report outlines the ways in which unions can act as stewards to aid the transition to a new economy for workers, businesses governments and the wider economy.

Key recommendations for the role of unions in stewarding a low-carbon economy include increasing environmental literacy for all; championing fair wages through the transition; standing up for decent and quality jobs and acting as a catalyst in terms of public procurement reform.

The report focuses both on what can be done immediately to ensure unions continue to play this role and lays out a blueprint for the ways in which unions can increase their participation and leadership in the next five years.

Tom Wilson, Director of unionlearn said of the report

“Trade unions are recognised by all parties as having a transformative role in social and economic change. In a period of change that is being likened to the industrial revolution in scale, it is inconceivable that unions would not be central to ensuring a successful and just transition.

We are delighted with the work Capacity Global have done in providing a practical blueprint for union involvement in the biggest change to industrial life for well over a century and outlining the key role unions will continue to play in the economies of the future. “

Maria Adebowale, Director of Capacity Global and author of the report said:

“ The think piece illustrates that the transition into a fair green economy needs to have unions playing a key stewardship role in the design green economy pathways and in developing innovative cross sector initiatives.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:
All unionlearn press releases can be found at www.unionlearn.org.uk
The report can be found below or on the unionlean website at: www.unionlearn.org.uk/initiatives/learn-4579-f0.cfm

Media enquiries:
Emma Burnell  T: 020 7079 6950  M: 07827 813439  E: eburnell@tuc.org.uk
James Asser  T: 020 7079 6942   M: 07769 706104  E: jasser@tuc.org.uk

Download Stewarding the Green Skills Agenda

Media enquiries:

Maria Adebowale T: 020 8938 3210 M: 07963 365685
E: maria@capacity.org.uk

For more information on union learn and green skills go to: www.unionlearn.org.uk

The London Greener Jobs Hub

The Academy operates the first pan London greener jobs hub for greening job initiatives – the hub’s founding members are Otesha Project, Global Action Plan, the Trade Union Congress, UCU, the Green Job Alliance and Deaf Unity.

The Hub’s mission is to ensure a green economy provides fairer, greener jobs and training opportunities for a diverse multicultural work force. It does this by driving demand for greener jobs and skills and providing advice to policy makers on solutions for scaling up greener jobs initiatives.

Making an Impact

We want to make a real impact. And there’s a lot happening in the Hub including:
policy and insight briefings
green job roundtables
think pieces
developing innovative partnerships

Ambassador

We really pleased to have Syed Ahmed, Founder & Director of London Energy as an Ambassador of the Hub.

For up-to-date information on the Academy Greener Jobs follow us on tumblr: http://greenerjobsacademy.tumblr.com/.