Monthly Archives: August 2009

USA: Greening America with good jobs

Unions and environmental groups launched a campaign on August 19, highlighting the benefits to American workers and businesses of transitioning to a clean energy economy that will create millions of jobs. The ‘Made in America’ Jobs Tour started in Ohio on August 20, the first of 50 stops across 22 states organised by the Alliance […]
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Global: Will workers pay for clean energy?

The potential occupational health and safety benefits of clean and green energy are seen as a slam dunk, a clear improvement on the dirty, heavy, hazardous polluting world of oil and coal. And for generations those jobs were certainly killers, occupationally and environmentally. But that doesn’t mean clean energy jobs are risk free jobs. Michael […]
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Britain: New programme on green energy risks

The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a new initiative in “response to government plans to introduce alternative (non-nuclear) energy technologies to combat climate change.” It says its Emerging Energy Technologies (EET) Programme, which includes new online resources, is HSE’s attempt to address the health and safety implications of the government’s drive “to […]
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USA: Unions lead the way to a green economy

America’s future is green and the union movement is in the forefront of creating a new green economy, says AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker. Speaking to the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) education conference in Phoenix last week, Holt Baker said:  “One of our biggest opportunities lies in the creation of green jobs, […]
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Britain: Save the Vestas turbine factory

Vestas Campaign: how you can help The information below is from the campaign to save 600 jobs at the Vestas factory on the Isle of Wight – the UK’s only wind turbine factory, closed by the Danish owners at the end of July. We’ve updated the information for how people can help support the Vestas […]
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USA: NIOSH making green jobs safe workshop

NIOSH, the US government’s occupational safety and health research body, is to run a ‘Going green: Safe and healthy jobs’ workshop in Washington DC from 14-16 December 2009.  It says: “Please join NIOSH as we frame the issues surrounding integrating worker health and safety into the new green economy.”  [pdf version of the workshop flyer]. […]
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Australia: Union boss on green building board

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has appointed a trade union heavyweight to its board in the hope of finding new opportunities for ‘green collar’ workers. Sharan Burrow, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has been appointed to the board. Announcing the appointment, the GBCA’s Chair Tony Arnel said Ms Burrow would be […]
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Global unions call for green jobs

Trade unions want both an effective UN climate pact and preservation of jobs in a shift to a green economy, a leader of a global labour group has said. More jobs could be created than are lost if governments are serious about promoting a switch from fossil fuels to a low-carbon economy, said Guy Ryder, […]
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US prison recycling ‘poisoned’ participants

Freda Cobb believes the job in food services at the Federal Correction Institute in Marianna has ruined her life. Cobb, who started working at the Florida prison in 1991, is one of 26 plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against the prison, claiming its computer recycling programme is toxic and hazardous to workers’ health.
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Australia: National clean energy jobs campaign

Welfare, union, environment, and research organisations have launched a major national grassroots Clean Energy Jobs campaign aimed at ensuring negotiations strengthen climate action and clean energy policies. “Our campaign is now going local to put some clean energy forged steel into the backbone of negotiators from all parties,” said John Connor, campaign spokesperson. ACTU news release […]
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