M15 - Future proofing our workplaces and preparing for a year of climate and ecological action

Conference welcomes the motions passed at the TUC that declared

• "the climate emergency will affect all jobs and all workers adversely.
• Climate Change is “a key trade union issue for us all"
• for a year of TU climate action "including engagement with community and climate justice groups"
• calling for heat strikes.

Conference recognises that

• Workplaces are at risk from extreme weather, flooding and high fossil fuel energy bills
• The failure to address the existential threat of climate/ecological breakdown is contributing to the epidemic of mental ill health now afflicting young people and adults alike

This Trades Council believes that the UK should support and implement Brazil's proposal for a global 2% tax on all billionaires to fund the green transition for the Global South; and tax all billionaire income increases to raise the annual $1.3 Trillion needed for it; and penalise banks that finance fossil fuel development.

And that workplaces and unions should

• develop workers ‘understanding of the realities of climate and ecological breakdown through webinars and Carbon Literacy Training
• be hubs for debate, and action to reduce workplace emissions and make all the workplace resilient to weather extremes, turning anxiety into purposeful action.

This Trades Council recognises the need to sharply increase union capacity to build the year of TU climate action, which should start in September 2025 with the Brazil COP as a key mobilising moment.

This Conference asks all Trades Councils to coordinate and organise networks and actions in their area during a year of Climate/Ecological Action including

• organise a Climate/Ecological Conference with other unions and climate campaigns during the year of action, as Leeds Trades Council did in 2019.
• work with other unions and climate campaigns to initiate and encourage members to support outward facing workplace events during the TU year of climate action, including a series of webinars and action on extreme weather
• organise a speaker on Heat strikes
• signpost green bargaining in all Reps training
• build networks of District Green officers and workplace health, safety and environment reps
• campaign for all workplaces to have a Green Bargaining Officer or to add Environment to the role of Health & Safety Representative.