UNISON on a Wave
UNDER EMBARGO: 0.01HRS SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER, 2009
UNISON ON A WAVE, CALLING FOR ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Nurses, hospital porters, social workers and home carers, will be amongst the members of UNISON donning blue wigs and outfits, joining the Wave. They will be marching on the Houses of Parliament to demand action to stop global warming, ahead of the Climate Change talks in Copenhagen.
At the climate change talks, the union will be adding it’s voice to the call for a ‘just transition’, to make sure the move to a low carbon future is fair, worker friendly and includes green jobs. Key to helping countries cope with the worst effects of climate change, will be increasing investment in their public sector, says the union.
UNISON is also calling for an official recognition of the role trade unions can play in fighting climate change*.
Mike Jeram, UNISON’s head of business and environment, said:
“It is only right that world leaders commit to a ‘just transition’ when they meet in Copenhagen later this month. This must include green policies that are worker friendly, including good green jobs and training.
“Key to tackling climate change is making sure people change their behaviour at work. Unions have a network of branches, reaching into workplaces all over the world. Using this network to promote efficient green practise would be a good place to start. UNISON thinks this role should be officially recognised
“Some countries will be hard hit by the effects of climate change. As a public sector union, we know that these regions will need to step up their investment in public services such as disaster prevention, energy efficiency, healthcare and water management. We hope that world leaders will help make this possible in their negotiations.
“Above all, we are marching to show the government we think it is vital they get a deal that protects the environment, communities and families, not only in Britain, but across the world, from global warming.”
Notes to editors:
*The draft negotiating agreement that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be discussing, recognises the need for the active participation of all stakeholders in ensuring ‘a just transition of the workforce’. UNISON believes this should be changed in order to explicitly recognise the distinctive role that unions play.
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