Today is Earth Day, which makes this announcement from SEIU all the more timely:
Just in time for Earth Day 2008, the 1.9 million member SEIU will launch its “Negotiate Green” initiative, a program that will utilize the union’s strong bargaining power to reduce the environmental footprint of our workplaces.
The unprecedented initiative establishes a series of “green contract provisions” that will empower members to bring environmental degradation and related environmental health concerns to the bargaining table. Gathered from SEIU members and leaders from across the country, the provisions include:
- Public transportation benefits to decrease automobile use
- Replacement of toxic cleaning supplies to protect workers, land and water
- Encouragement of daytime cleaning to reduce nighttime energy use in buildings
- Establishment of labor-management environmental committees for ongoing monitoring of environmental issues in the workplace
Many people have an outdated understanding of the relationship between labor and environmentalism. They think that what's good for workers is bad for the environment, and vice versa. Today, though, we can see an alternate path: a path where building a green economy creates lots of good new jobs that help people achieve the American Dream.
More information on green contract provisions can be found on the SEIU Web site.
