7 December, 2011On November 30 the ICEM, IMF and ITGLWF collaborated on an event entitled "Cutting Emissions - Transforming Jobs". It was a key part of the "World of Work" side events coordinated by the International Trade Union Confederation at the UN climate change conference COP-17 in Durban, South Africa.
GLOBAL: It has become a tradition for trade unions to hold side events under the "World of Work" banner at COP meetings (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) since COP-15 in Copenhagen, 2009. COP 17 takes place in Durban, South Africa, November 28 to December 9, 2011.
The three Global Union Federations, speaking for workers in the resource, industrial, and processing industries, held the event to discuss a sustainable foundation for Just Transition and develop a common industrial strategy for the future of industrial workers.
The panellists were asked to consider a post-Kyoto framework, climate finance, just transition, an industrial strategy, and the union's role for the future.
Philemon Shiburi, National Treasurer, National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), emphasized the importance of a second Kyoto commitment period to Africans. Finance and technology transfer are essential. Existing jobs must be protected alongside new ones as renewable energy is developed.
Arvind Shrouti, analyst, Option Positive - India, identified inequalities as a barrier to sustainability and urged strengthened industrial democracy with worker participation in decision-making.
Anne Panneels, Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development at the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), outlined some of the European efforts to design a long-term industrial strategy through social dialogue, for green and decent jobs that includes a Just Transition.
Bob Baugh, Executive Director, Industrial Union Council (AFL-CIO) - USA, showed that in the USA many unions are committed to an industrial policy that endorses the concepts of "green job" transformation and creation through deployment of technology and training and education.
David Macatha, National Treasurer, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) - South Africa, said that nothing can be accomplished without the efforts of workers to demand change, decent work, and a democratic renewal.
The presentations showed that workers globally share a vision of an industrial and social strategy that promotes the transformation of existing jobs to a more sustainable model, as well as the creation of new, sustainable jobs that fulfil the ILO goals of "decent work". The path towards a sustainable future for both today's and tomorrow's workers is strong investment in technological innovation, and a Just Transition.
For more information contact Brian Kohler: [email protected] or Kan Matsuzaki: [email protected].
The three Global Union Federations, speaking for workers in the resource, industrial, and processing industries, held the event to discuss a sustainable foundation for Just Transition and develop a common industrial strategy for the future of industrial workers.
The panellists were asked to consider a post-Kyoto framework, climate finance, just transition, an industrial strategy, and the union's role for the future.
Philemon Shiburi, National Treasurer, National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), emphasized the importance of a second Kyoto commitment period to Africans. Finance and technology transfer are essential. Existing jobs must be protected alongside new ones as renewable energy is developed.
Arvind Shrouti, analyst, Option Positive - India, identified inequalities as a barrier to sustainability and urged strengthened industrial democracy with worker participation in decision-making.
Anne Panneels, Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development at the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), outlined some of the European efforts to design a long-term industrial strategy through social dialogue, for green and decent jobs that includes a Just Transition.
Bob Baugh, Executive Director, Industrial Union Council (AFL-CIO) - USA, showed that in the USA many unions are committed to an industrial policy that endorses the concepts of "green job" transformation and creation through deployment of technology and training and education.
David Macatha, National Treasurer, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) - South Africa, said that nothing can be accomplished without the efforts of workers to demand change, decent work, and a democratic renewal.
The presentations showed that workers globally share a vision of an industrial and social strategy that promotes the transformation of existing jobs to a more sustainable model, as well as the creation of new, sustainable jobs that fulfil the ILO goals of "decent work". The path towards a sustainable future for both today's and tomorrow's workers is strong investment in technological innovation, and a Just Transition.
For more information contact Brian Kohler: [email protected] or Kan Matsuzaki: [email protected].