The international conference will bring together 40 labour unions, alongside key allies to work towards a comprehensive reclaiming of energy systems to public ownership and democratic control, and to reform and “de-marketize” existing public energy companies, in order to reverse current energy consumption and emission trends. The full programme is available here.
The event will follow a strategy meeting of union representatives hosted by TUED in New York City on September 26th and 27th.
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.
On July 9-10, 2019, Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) unions and allies in the UK came together in Manchester for a two-day working meeting. Titled Energy Transition and Economy-Wide Decarbonisation, the TUED meeting carried forward recent discussions on how unions and close allies can work with the Labour Party to shape its commitments on extending public control over the power sector, and the Party’s strategy for decarbonisation. The event built on discussions at the previous year’s TUED meeting in Sheffield, England.
Participants included representatives from 15 UK trade union bodies, Labour Party staff and advisors working around energy, transport, and community organizing, and more than 20 close allies from research, policy advocacy and campaigning organizations in the UK and beyond. The full program is available here, and the list of attendees is here.
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.
The policy of “putting a price on carbon” has been enshrined in the 2015 Paris Agreement and has long been favoured as the key mechanism for reducing emissions by big business and neoliberal policy makers. For its proponents, carbon trading offers the solution to limiting emissions without unduly disrupting business-as-usual and economic growth.
However, the new TUED working paper demonstrates that carbon markets have led to tensions between unions and are therefore a “lose/lose/lose” proposition for the labour movement. The paper concludes with a call for unions to see past the “neoliberal fantasy” of carbon markets and to work with allies “to better concentrate on developing and organizing around the kind of programmatic commitments that can seriously tackle climate change and the systemic roots of the crisis.”
You can read a summary of the paper, written by its author Sean Sweeney, Coordinator of Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, here: Facing up to the Failure of Carbon Markets
Over the past several months, TUED has been working with the main French trade union confederation CGT, the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Alter Summit, and the Global Labor Institute Paris to convene this global event, which will bring together unions and allies from around the world. More information, and registration details, at this link.
In preparation for the Forum, TUED has partnered with both the energy and mining division of the CGT (FNME) and Public Services International to organize a session titled Towards a Public Energy Future. The session will take place on Wednesday, June 16, from 1300 – 1600 CET.
This session will share findings of the Interim Report developed by the Trade Union Task Force for a Public Energy Future. The final report of the Task Force will be completed before COP26 in Glasgow.
International Trade Union Forum on Ecological and Social Transition
June 14-18: 1300-1800 CET (Find your local time here.)
June 19: 1400-1700 CET (Find your local time here.)
The social and environmental emergency, as well as the dramatic deterioration of the working and living conditions of a majority of the population since the beginning of the pandemic, has led a growing number of organizations – from company unions to professional federations to local, regional and international organizations – and other social movements to develop various strategies to respond.
This Forum was co-organized for several months with organizations from all continents. It will be an opportunity to share experiences, proposals and struggles of unions and their allies. The themes discussed will mainly revolve around: the transformation of the energy system, sectoral transitions and strategies for building power relations. Each thematic workshop is the result of preparatory work that we wish to bring up for debate. Texts summarizing our collective reflections will be made available to participants before the Forum.
The International Trade Union Forum for an Ecological and Social transition will be organized around daily sessions from 1pm to 6 pm from June 14 to 18. The sessions will combine presentation and discussion time.
It will conclude on Saturday, June 19 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm with a plenary assembly where a united appeal will be presented in view of the Cop26 in Glasgow and addressed to all social forces engaged in the construction of an ecological and social transformation. Register here.
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 is part of the Global Labour Institute Network.
For more information on how your union can be part of TUED, see here.
Mexican energy politics have made headlines in recent weeks following a political confrontation between the AMLO administration and actors in both Mexico and the U.S. that oppose his efforts to reverse the previous administration’s steps towards privatization, and reassert the country’s energy sovereignty.
This is a pivotal moment for energy politics in Mexico — the second largest economy in Latin America — with potentially global implications for the dominant neoliberal “privatize to decarbonize” agenda. Unions in Mexico support AMLO’s proposals. A successful campaign to defend AMLO’s proposed energy policies opens the door to a “pro-public” approach to energy transition.
Unions internationally have an opportunity to build solidarity with this struggle and raise awareness about its wider significance.
TUED is holding a Global Forum on Thursday March 25 2021 at 11am-12:30pm US Eastern Time
This report attempts to provide a detailed assessment of the market struture of the paratransit industry in Kampala, including both minibus (“taxi”) and motorcycle taxi (“boda-boda”) services. It is intended to contribute towards an understanding of how paratransit services can be incrementally improved and professionalised to minimize some of its negative effects on Kampala’s overall transport system, and how to integrate the existing informal service into the proposed new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
AFD in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Uganda have organized an online presentation of this report by its main contributors, Dave Spooner and John Mark Mwanika. After the presentation of the findings, a debate will be open to get comments and reactions on this matter.
Pandemic and Beyond: Workers Organizing for a Public Future
A Series of Virtual Meetings during July, August and September 2020
In response to the ongoing public health and economic crises, more than 30 trade union bodies from 18 countries have come together to convene a global assembly. Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) has been working with the convening unions to coordinate preparations for the Assembly.
The aim of the Assembly is to further build North-South solidarity and deepen our analysis of the many impacts of COVID19, both immediate and longer term. The convening unions see the Assembly as a means to further promote bold, pro-public solutions that can help address the deep structural flaws in the current system.
The Assembly is open to all trade union members, activists and leaders, as well as movement allies. Please register here.
Sessions will be scheduled to accommodate as many time zones as possible (evening hours for the Asia-Pacific region; mid-afternoon for Europe and Africa; early morning in the Americas).
Interpretation will be available for English, Spanish and French; with accommodation for additional languages if possible, depending on registrations and resources.
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 is part of the Global Labour Institute Network.
For more information on how your union can be part of TUED, see here.
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and the Global Labour University (GLU) are launching an online course combining the knowledge of trade unionists, labour activists and academics. This online course provides concise knowledge on how trade unions are using power resources to improve working conditions and transform themselves in the process. The course provides also possibilities to discuss and network with trade unionists, labour activists and researchers from around the world.
Course Structure
The course focuses on three interrelated themes:
The concepts of power resources and capabilities
Varieties of power resources
Power resources in context and in practice
You can follow this course with an online tutor starting on 31 March 2020, or you can study at your own pace; no prior knowledge on the topic is required. You are also encouraged to form your own group of trade unionists or friends from work to study together.
The Global Labour University is a network of trade unions, universities, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the ILO (International Labour Organisation) working to deliver high-level qualification programmes. It offers Masters Courses in four different countries on trade unions, sustainable development, social justice, international labour standards, multinational companies, economic policies and global institutions and promotes research cooperation on global labour issues. The Global Labour University is a new approach to increase the intellectual and strategic capacity of workers organisations and to establish stronger working relationships between trade unions, the ILO, and the scientific community. It strengthens trade union capacity and competence to advocate for Social Justice and Decent Work at the workplace nationally and internationally.
How do we build a trade union movement that promotes solutions to the climate crisis and responds to the attacks on workers’ rights and protections?
Video
Blog
Trade Unions vs. Climate Change
6th July, 2016 / Tandiwe Gross / guest blogger
While the world has applauded the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2016 to restrict the global rise in temperature to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius, it faces a striking contradiction. The goal of the Paris Agreement is to get to zero net emissions in the second half of this century, while the World Bank estimates that by this time the world economy will be three times larger than it is today.
In order to achieve the zero emissions goal, a fundamental policy shift is needed. However, in Paris world leaders did not agree to actually reduce emissions, they only agreed to increase emissions at a lower rate than it would be the case in a “business as usual” scenario.
Is the trade union movement doing enough to “change the system not the climate”? [Image: Julien B – Flickr/cc]The demands of the trade union movement for COP21 were to realize job potential of climate action (green jobs), to deliver on climate finance and support the most vulnerable workers affected by climate change (decent work), and to commit to securing a just transition for workers and their communities (just transition). These are good messages, but they are not enough to meet the challenge of climate change.
International trade union bodies have largely accepted pro-market ideas and borrow from the “green economy narrative”: the idea that investors investing in the green economy will make profits, with workers getting a share and unions having a voice in shaping this process.
Unfortunately, the green economy discourse is failing workers and the environment: a fundamental “greening” of the economy is simply not happening in the majority of countries with fossil energies still being on the rise.
We won’t be able to stabilize the climate if we can’t control the energy system
In this context, a new narrative has emerged in the trade union movement: a narrative which calls for a radical transformation of the political economy. The key idea is that renewable energies have the potential to solve the climate challenge if they are democratically controlled.
The Trade Unions for Energy Democracymovement is therefore based on a threefold strategy: resist (fight fossil fuel); reclaim (bring energy under public control); restructure (into a democratically-controlled energy sector based on renewable energies).
In the current scenario, indigenous communities are suffering from displacement and rights violations by mega energy projects for example in mining to satisfy the energy needs of the Global North.
Transnational corporations try to strengthen their grip on the energy sector through Free Trade and Investment Agreements, curtailing the ability of democratically elected government to implement progressive energy policies. An infamous example is the case of Swedish energy company Vattenfall which is suing Germany for over €700 million in compensation for the country’s decision to phase out nuclear energy.
In South East Asia, coal is estimated to increase from representing currently 30% of energy sources to 50% by 2050. This will mean massive displacement and pollution conflicts with communities around coal mines and processing plants.
Imagine the biggest social movement in the world aligning with communities against climate change
The good news is that in many parts of the world, local communities are opposing regressive policies such as fracking, coal mines and nuclear plants. This is a big chance to build strong alliances with other social movements by reconciling social and environmental demands.
The PCS union in the UK is part of the “Art not Oil” coalition
We can already draw on numerous inspiring examples of alliances: nurses in New York standing up against fracking because of the health and safety risks, communities in the Philippines aligning with workers against privatization and joint action of trade unionists and environmentalists in the UK’s Tate museum against zero hour contracts and the museums’ sponsoring by the oil company British Petroleum.
These are inspiring examples, but on the large scale we are nowhere close to where we should be. We need a serious commitment from our movement, globally and locally, which has a clear vision of the alternatives, such as a democratically-controlled, affordable and renewable energy sector which respects workers’ rights and the rights of communities.
Is there a union that is prepared to design its struggle for workers’ rights and social justice through the lens of climate change? Maybe that is the union of the 21st century.
movement is therefore based on a threefold strategy: resist (fight fossil fuel); reclaim (bring energy under public control); restructure (into a democratically-controlled energy sector based on renewable energies).