ENVIRONMENTAL CAUCUS
The San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council Environmental Caucus is committed to:
Engaging our members and the community about labor’s role in advocating for tangible solutions to the climate crisis that simultaneously strengthen our middle-class.
Letting our members know that good green jobs don’t kill construction projects, in fact in some cases it actually increases opportunity.
Insisting that those who might be displaced should be retrained for the new economy as well as ensuring that the green economy is creating union career opportunities to ensure a just transition for working people.
Building and sustaining real partnerships with the local environmental movement and community groups committed to economic and environmental justice.
Pushing for bold new political and policy initiatives that move beyond lip service to effectively address the two great issues of our age—historic economic inequality and climate change
Purpose of the Caucus?
Educate our members and the community about the pressing environmental issues of our day and possible solutions to the present crisis.
Build strong alliances and partnerships between labor and other environmental and community groups.
Serve as a policy body inside the labor council that assures that labor’s agenda always includes an environmental focus and that labor’s issues are always present in larger discussions of environmental issues.
Promote progressive labor/environmental legislation.
KEY RESOLUTIONS
Resolution Ensuring Creation of 100% Renewable Energy Program Supporting Union Jobs…
Resolution Supporting
Transit NOW
Resolution in Support of a Green New Deal with Strong Labor Provisions
Resolution Supporting Climate Literacy in the Schools
Resolution on Climate Change and Inequality
Resolution against the Dakota Access Pipeline
EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL
Recap of our First Year!
WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR LABOR
GREEN JOBS EDUCATION
WHY LABOR SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT
10 REASON UNION MEMBERS should care about climate change
THE ENVIRONMENT OR
THE ECONOMY
HOW TO TALK TO UNION MEMBERS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
News and Updates
Labor Council in San Diego On Board With the Green New Deal
The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council was first in the nation among its type of local coalitions to pass a resolution supporting a “Green New Deal with strong labor provisions in concert with our environmental and community partners.”
America’s Labor Unions Agree that Climate Change Must Be Addressed
“America’s labor unions agree that climate change must be addressed.” It added, “It is critical that the voices of American workers be included in the discussion, especially those who are most at risk of job disruptions and economic dislocation as a result of those actions.” And it said, “We are ready to discuss these issues in a responsible way, for we all recognize that doing nothing is not an option.”
18 Strategies for a Green New Deal: How to Make the Climate Mobilization Work
The LNS discussion paper “18 Strategies for a Green New Deal” lays out a program for how worker needs, labor rights, and union interests can be protected and advanced within the framework of the Green New Deal.
Why Unions Must Bargain Over Climate Change
Perhaps the best climate policy is transit-oriented, high-density affordable housing. It reduces commute times, and helps public workers and the people who depend on their services. Public services suffer from housing costs as workers move away and commute further distances.