Speakers’ papers from Sustainable jobs in a green economy: The role of trade unions and collective held in London, Tuesday 18th May 2010

Speakers papers can be download from attachments below

About the seminar
The Institute is honoured to have Victoria Lambropoulos, an academic at Deakin University, Australia present for this seminar. Victoria will bring expertise in the debates which have happened in Australia around the constructive role trade unions can take in collectively bargaining for a green economy.

Victoria will be joined by Sian Jones from the CWU, and Sarah Pearce from the TUC’s Greenworkplaces project.

The CWU has been at the forefront of the arguments for ‘green-collar’ jobs and which has been involved in the innovative Climate Outreach and Information Network

The TUC’s Greenworkplaces Project asserts how unions are taking a lead on energy and waste reduction, recycling, green travel plans among many others.

This seminar is the second seminar in 3 years on the subject of greening the economy. Much has happened since that seminar in 2007, not least the failure of the Copenhagen climate summit discussions and a broader feeling that climate change will affect how our economy evolves which was shown in the connections drawn out of the Vestas dispute.

Climate change is an issue which affects all workers and one which trade unions have been strong in engaging their membership – this includes the increase in environmental audits and green workplace reps. So what role can unions play in creating and maintaining sustainable jobs? What way can unions engage in greening the economy?

• Programme
  1. 1.30 Registration
  2. 1:50 Introduction from Chair, Carolyn Jones, IER
  3. 2:00 Sustainability in the workplace- the example of the TUC Greenworkplaces project

Sarah Pearce, TUC

1. 2:30 Questions
2. 2:45 Tea and coffee
3. 3:00 Comparisons from Australia: The role of trade unions in bargaining for green-collar jobs

Victoria Lambropoulos, Deakin University Australia

1. 3:30 Mobilising trade unionists for climate solidarity, Sian Jones, CWU
2. 4:00 Discussion
3. 4:15 Close