Unions and the Transition to Low Carbon Economies

Transcription

1 Unions and the Transition to Low Carbon Economies Peter Fairbrother and Darryn Snell Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work 14 April July 2010

2 Questions 1. Unions challenged by globalisation/neoliberalism 2. How to shift from defensiveness to proactive strategies Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University 2

3 Prospects in Transition 1.Debate about impact of transition 2.Government policies: contradictory and uneven 3.Unions face tensions: a. Protect jobs b. New jobs c. Transition to decent jobs 4.How can unions connect with/shape political decisions? ie. Where does governance fit into this process? Centre for Sustainable Organisation and Work, RMIT University 3

4 Argument 1. Look to organisation and capacity 2. Unions look to representational base 3. Open up alliances develop and extend capacities 4. Must now look to purpose: Awareness/consciousness 5. But, can unions become development actors? Qualifications a. Danger of protectionism b. Danger that unions will be subordinated to expertise Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University 4

5 . Latrobe City, Victoria, Australia: The Context, the actors and the action Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University 5

6 Latrobe City and Environs in Victoria, 2010 Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University 6

7 Latrobe City/Gippsland Gippsland: 16% of world s brown coal reserves Latrobe City four urban centres and smaller townships Population: 73,982 / 255,381 = 29% Households: 27,071 / 89,659 = 31% Industries Energy Production and Distribution Manufacture Agriculture principally dairy Tourism Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University 7

8 Latrobe City: Policies History: coal and electricity generation State approach: statutory body and privatisation Now: Revival Inward Investment Positioning Latrobe City for a Low Carbon Emission Future Latrobe City Council seeks to promote a transition while retaining an energy presence based on coal: Positioning Latrobe City for a Low Carbon Emission Future (pdf version 223kb) Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University 8

9 Unions 1.Long history: state sponsored 2.Union division 3.Confederation Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University 9

10 Core Issue: Jobs 1. Traditional Jobs 2. Dirty jobs 3. Green Jobs 4. Decent Jobs Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University 10

11 Green Jobs positions in agriculture, manufacturing, construction, installation, and maintenance, as well as scientific and technical, administrative, and service-related activities, that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. Specifically, but not exclusively, this includes jobs that help to protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption through high-efficiency and avoidance strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution. (Worldwatch Institute, 2008: 35 36). Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University 11

12 1: Sustainable Development and the Future of Jobs Reducing emissions and energy use - cleaning up dirty Jobs: Carbon pollution Jobs Communities Regions Centre for Sustainable Organisation and Work, RMIT University 12

13 2: Sustainable Development and the Future of Jobs Conceptual difficulties (Old jobs as new ones? And Growing Clean Jobs: Low carbon goods & industries New technologies/new enterprises Training and learning Centre for Sustainable Organisation and Work, RMIT University 13

14 Union Confederation/Unions: Actions and Issues 1. Policy 2. Language 3. Meetings 4. Resources 5. Research 6. Alliances: Local state Other organisations Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University 14

15 Conditions for Action 1. Develop awareness forum 2. Face policy makers 3. Understand economy 4. Identify socio-demographics of the economy 5. Work at a local level 6. Develop alliances 7. Develop industrial policy Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University 15

16 The Problem of Capacity Who is the focus of policy? The role of local state local state, the municipal bodies The role of the regional/provincial state/federal state How do unions focus and connect? Centre for Governance, Work and Technologies, RMIT University 16

17 Conclusion 1. Pro-active strategies/build on reactive base 2. Fragile and tentative forms of organisation/division between unions and federation 3. Re-position within region/sectoral divisions (between and within unions and between unions and others) 4. Forge purpose by building on capacities/limited recognition that unions can be development actors. Centre for Sustainable Organisations and Work, RMIT University 17

18 Studies and Action Plan What to do? Studies and Initiatives Centre of Full Employment and Equity (2008) A Just Transition to a Renewable Energy Economy in the Hunter Region, Australia. Green Jobs Illawarra Project Steering Committee (2009) Green Jobs Illawarra Action Plan: A Report to the Honourable Nathan Rees Premier of NSW from the Green jobs Illawarra Project Steering Committee, University of Wollongong (2009) Power to the People: Building Sustainable Jobs in the Illawarra: A Report for the South Coast Labour Council, Cluster Analysis Rodin Genoff & Associates (2008) Engineering the Future, for the Denmark Central Region and the European Union. Rodin Genoff & Associates (2009) Townsville Cluster Connections, for the Townsville City Council Centre for Governance, Work and Technologies, RMIT University 18