Sean Sweeney from Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) has written an article titled “‘Weaponizing the Numbers’: The Hidden Agenda behind Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform”.

Originally written for the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies’ journal, New Labor Forum, the article unpacks the differences between producer and consumer subsidies, digs into the numbers behind the calls for reform, and uncovers a disturbing reality. On close inspection, Sweeney argues, it’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that elite institutions are actually inflating the numbers — not in order to put pressure on fossil fuel interests, but to wage war on state regulation of energy prices. Sweeney concludes that “subsidy reform” would hurt workers in the global South, while doing little or nothing to reduce fossil fuel use or dependency.

The full article is available in English, Spanish and Korean.

On April 3rd, 2020, Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) hosted a Global Web Forum on how unions are responding to the evolving global public health, economic and social crises set in motion by the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 200 participants from 70 unions in 25 countries.

Speakers on the call reported from the USA, South Korea, the Philippines, India, South Africa and Australia.

Reports highlighted:

• The immediate struggles facing workers and working class communities around the globe.
• The impact of decades of austerity and privatization under neoliberalism, that have left so many vulnerable in dealing with existing conditions.
• The need to work together to formulate responses that can advance international solidarity and pro-public solutions to the immediate challenges.
• The enduring ecological crisis that we must still address no matter how the immediate crises play out.

You can find additional information from the call below:

• Videorecording of the meeting
• Agenda
• List of Participants (missing some late additions)
• Union Statements and Resources on COVID-19
• Chat Box Record (actions, resources, questions, information)

There is also a short report of the meeting from Nancy Romer of the Professional Staff Congress—American Federation of Teachers (PSC-AFT), addressed to other members of her union’s environmental justice working group, available here.

In light of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 global health crisis, Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) will convene a Global Web Forum this Friday, April 3rd, at the following times:

• 10:00-11:30am New York
• 3:00-4:30pm London
• 4:00-5:30pm Paris, Rome, Johannesburg
• 11:00pm-12:30am, Seoul

The call will hear from healthcare and public service unions from the USA, Italy, South Africa, India, South Korea, Australia and elsewhere regarding their responses to the COVID-19 emergency. The goal of the call is to share ideas and strategies, and to identify opportunities for further solidarity and support.

If you want to take part, please RSVP on this form.

Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) is a global, multi-sector trade union initiative to advance democratic direction and control of energy in a way that promotes solutions to the climate crisis, energy poverty, the degradation of both land and people, and responds to the attacks on workers’ rights and protections. TUED is the signature project of the International Program for Labor, Climate & Environment at the Murphy Institute, City University of New York and is part of the Global Labour Institute Network.

For more information on how your union can be part of TUED, see here.