Peter Tatchell urges a green-trade union alliance to push for social justice, environmental protection and sustainable economicsTrade unions are probably the most important and effective voluntary associations in the UK. Over the last two centuries, they have done more than any other social institution to improve the standard of living and quality of life of ordinary people.
The union movement has not only won improved wages. It pioneered campaigns for the eradication of child labour and sweatshop conditions, and for the introduction of the 40-hour week, minimum wage, holiday pay, pensions, industrial injury compensation, equal pay for women and part-time workers, better training and vocational qualifications, and improved health and safety in the workplace.
Despite these monumental achievements, which have made a huge positive contribution to the welfare of the British people, trade unions also have a downside. They tend to be defensive, macho and mostly focussed on bread and butter issues – usually seeking a better deal for their members within the profit-driven, free market economic system, rather than bidding to change the system. Too often, they share the big business and mainstream political agenda of maximising growth, income and spending power; mirroring the materialist, consumerist values of the political elite and corporate giants.
It doesn’t have to be like this. As we have seen from their many successful, valuable social welfare campaigns, unions have immense potential to be a force for social change and benefit. They can be allies of the green movement, promoting policies that are environmentally friendly and ecologically sustainable.
Way back in the 1970s, the Australian construction unions worked in solidarity with environmental and community activists to enforce ‘green bans’ on speculative, ecologically destructive developments that threatened inner-city working class areas. This demonstrated the potential for organised labour to use its industrial strength to advance a green agenda, for the betterment of all. It was a win-win campaign. Environmental degradation and community break up were averted, and the unions won huge public sympathy and support.
We could replicate those tactics today, here in the UK. We already have a Green Party Trade Union Group that is building links with the trade union movement.
Trade unions have millions of members. With significant weight and influence locally, nationally and globally, the unions could be a major force to challenge environmental degradation and promote sustainable economics.
Collective bargaining does not have to be about only wages and conditions. Unions could also negotiate green commitments with governments and corporations, to ensure eco audits and eco impact assessments, the ethical investment of pension funds, a switch to energy saving technologies in the workplace and improved health and safety standards. These green commitments would benefit both workers and consumers. They would be a gain for the whole of society and win trade unions increased public esteem and support.
The imperatives of international capital threaten the future of life on earth. They put economic growth, materialism and money-making before quality of life and human welfare. These are the main drivers of climate chaos, resource depletion and species extinction.
Preventing ecological disaster requires constraints on the power of governments and big corporations. Profiteering and free trade need to be subordinated to sustainable policies for the survival of humanity.
This makes a green-union alliance more urgent and relevant than ever before. Many union members already share our green critique of the ever-expanding, profit-oriented, market-driven nature of the globalised economic system. Unions are potential allies for the green movement. We should work with them, in solidarity.
Environmental justice and social justice are interlinked, which gives unions and greens a good reason to work together around the twin emancipation goals of social equity and ecological sustainability.
More info on the Green Party Trade Union Group
Website: http://gptu.net/pssess4X/3c/hpage.shtml
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