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September 12, 2017,
Brighton, U.K.
The annual congress of the UK Trades Union Congress (TUC) has
passed a historic composite resolution (also
below) on climate change that supports the energy sector being
returned to public ownership and democratic control.
The
resolution—carried unanimously by hundreds of delegates—calls upon
the national center to work with the Labour Party to achieve this
goal, as well as to: implement a mass program for energy conservation
and efficiency; lobby for the establishment of a “just transition”
strategy for affected workers; and, investigate the long-term risks
to pension funds from investments in fossil fuels.
The
Labour Party’s 2017 election manifesto, For the Many, Not the Few,
pointed to the failures of electricity privatization, energy poverty,
the need the honor the UK’s climate commitments, and to put the UK on
course for 60% of its energy to be met by zero carbon or renewable
sources by 2030.
The
Manifesto also committed to “take energy back into public ownership
to deliver renewable energy, affordability for consumers, and
democratic control.” It calls for the creation of “publicly owned, locally
accountable energy companies and co-operatives to rival existing
private energy suppliers.”
Moved
by Sarah Woolley, Organising Regional Secretary for the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union
(BFAWU), the resolution refers to the “irrefutable evidence that
dangerous climate change is driving unprecedented changes to our
environment,” as well as the risks to meeting the climate challenge
posed by Trump’s announced withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, and
by the chaotic approach to both Brexit and broader policy by the
current Conservative government.
The
resolution affirmed that combating climate change and moving towards
a low-carbon economy cannot be left to markets, but requires a strong
role for the public sector in driving the transition. In supporting
the resolution, several speakers referred to the devastation
unleashed across the Caribbean over the previous several days by
Hurricane Irma—the most powerful Atlantic Ocean storm in recorded
history—and across southern Texas only days before that by Hurricane
Harvey.
Cliff
Holloway of the train drivers’ union ASLEF referred to the major role
of transport in the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. Rail union RMT representative Glenroy
Watson emphasized the need for worker representation in developing
solutions, and for greater support for the global South, which has
not been adequately supported in its adaptation efforts. Speaking for
UNISON, Nicky Ramanadi
highlighted the issue of fuel poverty, while Ele Wade, speaking for the
power sector union Prospect, noted that emissions
reductions were trailing behind established targets. Iain Dalton of
the retail union USDAW referred to the failures
of the private sector, emphasizing that “public ownership of energy
under democratic control is the crucial part of this composite
resolution.”
PCS' Assistant
General Secretary Chris Baugh also spoke in favor of the resolution.
A video segment of his comments is
here.
Also
supporting the resolution was the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), whose
Andy Noble urged UK unions to support Trade Unions for Energy
Democracy, and to join with unions around the world in the global
fight for democratic control of energy.
Notably,
the text of the resolution also formally recognized the important
work of TUED partner, The Transnational Institute
(TNI), based in Amsterdam, whose recent report, “Reclaiming Public
Service: how cities and citizens are turning back privatization,”
highlighted the global trend towards re-municipalization of public
services, including energy. TNI’s report is available here.
Following
the vote, Martin Mayer, UNITE’s representative to the
Labour Party’s National Executive Committee, told TUED: “Today
British trade unions for the first time agreed a visionary strategy
to combat climate change. That must mean taking back control of our
privatised energy and a serious call for a just transition to protect
jobs.” Jenny Patient of Sheffield Climate Alliance—part
of the Campaign Against Climate Change
Trade Union group—added, “We know there are good and valuable jobs in
the transition to zero carbon and this resolution shows the way
forward by making this integral to a cross-sector industrial strategy
that can rebalance and rebuild industries and protect workers.”
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