Blog: COP28 in Dubai

As a member of the ITUC delegation attending COP28 in Dubai, I have had the opportunity to witness both the achievements and concerns from a trade union perspective during the first week of the conference.

Just transition

One of the significant achievements during the first week of COP28 in Dubai, was the acknowledgment of the importance of a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Recognition of the rights and needs of workers and affected communities in the transition process is crucial. 

In daily negotiations I have advocated for the inclusion of just transition measures in the final agreement. This would ensure that workers are not left behind. We will know more on whether our attempts have been successful at the end of this year’s COP negotiations in a few days’ time.

Engagement with trade unions

COP28 has witnessed a notable level of engagement with trade unions in the decision-making process, though there is definitely room for improvement here in future. 

Trade unionist presence in various working groups and consultations has allowed us to contribute our expertise and ensure that labour issues are given due consideration, and the recognition of the role of trade unions in addressing climate change is a positive step towards a more inclusive and effective response.

Strengthened solidarity

The first week of COP28 saw trade unions from different countries and sectors coming together to share experiences and strategies. Solidarity among unions and their federations from across the globe has grown. This has led to fruitful collaborations and the exchange of best practices. This unity has amplified our voice and enhanced our ability to influence climate policies and actions.

Insufficient funding and ambition

In spite of the positives listed above, I am concerned about a lack of ambition for nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the measures that individual countries are prepared to take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 

I’m also concerned that there are insufficient financial resources allocated to support workers and communities in the transition to a sustainable economy. Trade unions at the conference have called for increased funding and investment in reskilling, job creation, and social protection measures to ensure a fair and equitable transition for all workers.

Finally, there appears to be a lack of gendered perspectives and the recognition of the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalised groups. There are also uncertainties around the position of countries that rely upon fossil fuels such as the COP28 host the UAE. 

As we move into the second week of COP28, trade unions have made significant strides in promoting just transition, securing increased engagement, and fostering collaboration. 

With a newly formed policy sub group focusing specifically on this area, UNISON remains fully committed to working towards a climate-resilient world that prioritises workers’ rights and the wellbeing of communities.

 

The article Blog: COP28 in Dubai first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Reflecting on a week at COP28 in Dubai

Tony Wright (pictured) is a member of the ITUC delegation attending COP28 in Dubai, and had the opportunity to witness both the achievements and concerns from a trade union perspective during the first week of the conference. Here he reflects on the first week at the conference.

Just transition

One of the significant achievements during the first week of COP28 in Dubai, was the acknowledgment of the importance of a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Recognition of the rights and needs of workers and affected communities in the transition process is crucial. 

In daily negotiations I have advocated for the inclusion of just transition measures in the final agreement. This would ensure that workers are not left behind. We will know more on whether our attempts have been successful at the end of this year’s COP negotiations in a few days’ time.

Engagement with trade unions

COP28 has witnessed a notable level of engagement with trade unions in the decision-making process, though there is definitely room for improvement here in future. 

Trade unionist presence in various working groups and consultations has allowed us to contribute our expertise and ensure that labour issues are given due consideration, and the recognition of the role of trade unions in addressing climate change is a positive step towards a more inclusive and effective response.

Strengthened solidarity

The first week of COP28 saw trade unions from different countries and sectors coming together to share experiences and strategies. Solidarity among unions and their federations from across the globe has grown. This has led to fruitful collaborations and the exchange of best practices. This unity has amplified our voice and enhanced our ability to influence climate policies and actions.

Insufficient funding and ambition

In spite of the positives listed above, I am concerned about a lack of ambition for nationally determined contributions, the measures that individual countries are prepared to take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius. 

I’m also concerned that there are insufficient financial resources allocated to support workers and communities in the transition to a sustainable economy. Trade unions at the conference have called for increased funding and investment in reskilling, job creation, and social protection measures to ensure a fair and equitable transition for all workers.

Finally, there appears to be a lack of gendered perspectives and the recognition of the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalised groups. There are also uncertainties around the position of countries that rely upon fossil fuels such as the COP28 host the UAE. 

As we move into the second week of COP28, trade unions have made significant strides in promoting just transition, securing increased engagement, and fostering collaboration. 

With a newly formed policy sub group focusing specifically on this area, UNISON remains fully committed to working towards a climate-resilient world that prioritises workers’ rights and the wellbeing of communities.

 

The article Blog: Reflecting on a week at COP28 in Dubai first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Top 5 ways to help planet Earth this week

 

This year, UNISON’s Green week runs from 15-22 September to coincide with two major global mobilisations Fridays for the Future – a youth led protest about the threat posed by climate change (15 September) – and Fight Fossil Fuels which demands ‘a rapid, just and equitable’ end to fossil fuels (15-17 September).

Here are five ways you can still get involved…


1. Read this

If you don’t know where to start with Green Week, read this feature where two UNISON green activists explain why the week is so important and why UNISON takes the issue so seriously.

The Earth will continue … But we won’t


2. Sign this

Four smoking chimneys

If that article inspired you to take action, your first port of call is to sign UNISON’s petition to tax oil and gas giants.

The fuelers of climate change are regularly in the news this year for making record profits and paying out billions to their shareholders. With people struggling to pay their energy bills, UNISON believes it’s time they paid more of a fair share.

Sign the petition


3. Go to one (or both) of these

Once you’ve done that, here are two webinars you can sign up to:

How to have conversations about climate change that matter – Larger Us 

Register here – Thursday 21 September 12:30-1:30pm

UNISON has teamed up with Larger Us – which works to build broader coalitions for change – to deliver free online training to anyone who wants to up their game when it comes to climate conversations.

This webinar explains the project in detail and explores what the training will look like and what this pilot project will involve.


Sustainable healthcare – why greening the NHS matters for us all

Register here – Monday 25 September 12:30-1:30pm

Haley Pinto from the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare gives a clear and comprehensive round up of the impact of the climate crisis on our health and on the NHS, including some of the initiatives that are already happening and many that need to happen urgently.


4. Support like this

During the week its vital that we spread the message as far as possible. You can do this by talking to your friends, family and colleagues or by posting to social media – below are two easy ways to get the message out.

Click here to ‘tweet’ your support:

Send a Tweet

Or to share information with your friends and groups on whatsapp click here:

Send a WhatsApp


5. Be one of these

If all of the above seems right up your street, you should consider becoming a UNISON environment, or green, rep. Or, if it’s not for you, talk to some of your colleagues who might be interested and get them involved.

The role is very flexible from being a contact point to running campaigns greening your workplace, with lots of training and resources to get you started.

To find out more about what the role entails and how to get involved the best places to start and are this leaflet and poster.

The article Top 5 ways to help planet Earth this week first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Top 5 ways to help planet Earth this week

 

This year, UNISON’s Green week runs from 15-22 September to coincide with two major global mobilisations Fridays for the Future – a youth led protest about the threat posed by climate change (15 September) – and Fight Fossil Fuels which demands ‘a rapid, just and equitable’ end to fossil fuels (15-17 September).

Here are five ways you can still get involved…


1. Read this

If you don’t know where to start with Green Week, read this feature where two UNISON green activists explain why the week is so important and why UNISON takes the issue so seriously.

The Earth will continue … But we won’t


2. Sign this

Four smoking chimneys

If that article inspired you to take action, your first port of call is to sign UNISON’s petition to tax oil and gas giants.

The fuelers of climate change are regularly in the news this year for making record profits and paying out billions to their shareholders. With people struggling to pay their energy bills, UNISON believes it’s time they paid more of a fair share.

Sign the petition


3. Go to one (or both) of these

Once you’ve done that, here are two webinars you can sign up to:

How to have conversations about climate change that matter – Larger Us 

Register here – Thursday 21 September 12:30-1:30pm

UNISON has teamed up with Larger Us – which works to build broader coalitions for change – to deliver free online training to anyone who wants to up their game when it comes to climate conversations.

This webinar explains the project in detail and explores what the training will look like and what this pilot project will involve.


Sustainable healthcare – why greening the NHS matters for us all

Register here – Monday 25 September 12:30-1:30pm

Haley Pinto from the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare gives a clear and comprehensive round up of the impact of the climate crisis on our health and on the NHS, including some of the initiatives that are already happening and many that need to happen urgently.


4. Support like this

During the week its vital that we spread the message as far as possible. You can do this by talking to your friends, family and colleagues or by posting to social media – below are two easy ways to get the message out.

Click here to ‘tweet’ your support:

Send a Tweet

Or to share information with your friends and groups on whatsapp click here:

Send a WhatsApp


5. Be one of these

If all of the above seems right up your street, you should consider becoming a UNISON environment, or green, rep. Or, if it’s not for you, talk to some of your colleagues who might be interested and get them involved.

The role is very flexible from being a contact point to running campaigns greening your workplace, with lots of training and resources to get you started.

To find out more about what the role entails and how to get involved the best places to start and are this leaflet and poster.

The article Top 5 ways to help planet Earth this week first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Recap: Second day of EA strikes

Environment Agency workers across the country walked out yesterday, in their second day of strike action over pay this year.

UNISON’s head of environment, Donna Rowe-Merriman, said: “EA members will not be ignored on the issue of pay any longer. They have taken strike action to ensure their issues are recognised by the public – and by their employer.

“Our members will not be pushed from pillar to post – they want action from this government to resolve pay, now, for their families and to prevent more staff from leaving the agency.

“The onus lies with the chancellor – to allow the agency to engage fully with the EA trade unions to seek a resolution for the 2022/23 pay round, and to ensure that a robust process is in place for 2023/24 pay discussions.”

Photographer Marcus Rose was on hand at the Environment Agency’s Marsham Street offices in London, where UNISON and Prospect members were picketing.

A UNISON branded sign says 'Fair pay in the EA' a person walks past it in the background

Two people in High vis tops wave UNISON flags on an EA picket line

An EA striker hands a passer-by a leaflet

UNISON and Prospect unite on the picket lines outside the Environment Agency on Marsham Street, London SW1.

Orange UNISON steward armband round a high-viz jacket arm

Prospect and UNISON strikers on EA pciket line 8 Feb

UNISON and Prospect unite on the picket lines outside the Environment Agency on Marsham Street, London SW1.

UNISON and Prospect unite on the picket lines outside the Environment Agency on Marsham Street, London SW1.

 

Some highlights from the rest of the country

 

 

The article Recap: Second day of EA strikes first appeared on the UNISON National site.

The growing importance of the EA

Tuesday marked the 70  year anniversary of the North Sea Flood when over 300 people lost their lives across Scotland and England’s east coast in 1953 when a storm surge overwhelmed sea defences in over 1,200 places along the UK’s east coast and, in today’s terms, causing around £1.2bn of damage.

To mark the day, UNISON organised a roundtable event for Westminster parliamentarians to learn about the work of the Environment Agency (EA) as well as understand the issues currently affecting it.

MPs and peers from across the political spectrum attended and agreed on the importance of the work that EA workers undertake.

The roundtable opened by addressing the role played by EA staff in responding to the North Sea Flood, and recognised that, with the impact of the climate crisis worsening every year, the work of the agency and its staff is becoming more important than ever before.

Discussion highlighted the key role of the EA in meeting the UK’s climate obligations and emphasised that a well-resourced agency should be something all parties can agree on in order to ensure the country maintains an environment that is fit for the future, as well as being prepared in the event of flooding and other environmental disasters.

Within this discussion, the need for higher pay was recognised as key for the EA to be able to operate.

Pay in the EA

However, while the agency is now a fourth emergency service, staff have been underpaid and undervalued by the government for over a decade.

The attendees heard that the real value of pay in the EA has been eroded significantly, with pay awards falling below the rate of inflation in every year but one since 2010.

This meant that in 2021, even before historic inflation rates began to bite, the average EA worker’s salary was 20% lower than it would have been if pay rises had kept pace with inflation for a decade – the equivalent of working one day in five for free.

It was acknowledged that most staff in the agency are not just working for the money but are passionate about the service they provide, however, as a consequence of years of pay degradation, many experienced agency workers are voting with their feet and have left the agency to seek better pay with employers that recognise the value of their skills and experience.

Moving on to the current dispute the roundtable addressed the fact that in 2022, EA workers received a pay offer of 2% plus £345 consolidated increase with an average increase in take-home pay of just 46p per hour, at a time when inflation reached over 13%.

This has led to serious recruitment and retention issues in the agency and caused Sir James Bevan, chief executive of the Environment Agency, to write to the environment secretary to say that the level of pay rises offered to EA staff in 2022-23 was unjust, unwise, and unfair [when] EA employees have taken a series of real terms pay cuts, while working harder and harder”.

Low morale, poor remuneration, an ageing workforce, and the difficulty in recruiting hinders the EA’s ability to deliver on its objectives and the strength of feeling among workers about this became clear toward the end of 2022.

Industrial action

In October the pay offer was put to UNISON members, resulting in an 87% vote to reject it, with the subsequent industrial action ballot in November returning a 73% vote for strike action.

As a result, over December EA workers undertook nine days of industrial action short of strike in the form of a withdrawal from ‘voluntary’ incident response cover, with a full day of strike action following on 18 January and another planned for 8 February.

Moving forward

During the roundtable, support was shown for a debate in parliament on the issue of EA pay as well as offers to make contact with the DEFRA secretary of state to see what options exist for resolving the dispute.

UNISON national secretary for the environment Donna Rowe-Merriman, said: “The roundtable was an important opportunity to speak directly to legislators about an under-reported issue, and it was very successful in that respect.

“Moving forward, however, UNISON is calling on all parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to take action on this issue. Environment Agency workers do some of the most important jobs to protect and secure the environment for both today and tomorrow’s generations and the government must be held to account on its denial of a fair pay settlement.

“It is vital that environmental protection officers, biodiversity officers, flood defence workers and countless other roles crucial to maintaining environmental protection and safety receive a fair pay settlement that recognises the added impact of the current cost of living crisis.”

The article The growing importance of the EA first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: We need a new law to protect human rights and the environment

We urgently need a new UK law to hold companies and the public sector to account when they fail to prevent human rights abuses and environmental harms in their global value chains.

Nothing illustrates how broken the global procurement system is better than examining who gets what and how, at the top and the bottom of the global supply chain.

As exposed on Channel 4 News last week, the non-government organisation, All the Citizens (represented by Wilson Solicitors LLP), settled its claim in the high court to challenge the government’s procurement processes in relation to modern slavery.

UNISON has been working with allies – including Pensions and Investment Research Consultants, which advises UK local authority pension funds, and Nusrat Uddin, a solicitor at Wilson’s – to expose the systemic abuse of workers in PPE and other public sector supply chains.

The legal settlement clarifies that publicly owned NHS Supply Chain seriously breached its legal obligations by not properly checking the information provided by Malaysian PPE manufacturer Supermax, in relation to its modern slavery standards.

The company has faced persistent allegations of the use of forced labour involving its migrant workforce.

The International Labour Organisation has 11 indicators for modern slavery, including the retention of employees’ identity documents by employers, withholding of wages, debt bondage and abusive working and living conditions.

NHS Supply Chain will now have to conduct a new procurement exercise for PPE gloves and only award to suppliers assessed as ‘low’ risk for modern slavery.

I believe this is a significant win, but Supermax is just one of many suppliers to the public sector whose products are riddled with modern slavery and union busting.

Workers at home or abroad can rarely bring cases like this to UK courts, because the law is not fit for purpose. And when they do, as in this case, there is no justice for the workers in the form of apologies or compensation.

But we can be hopeful, because things are changing across Europe.

Countries including France, Germany and Norway have already passed laws requiring companies to undertake robust human rights and environmental due diligence across their supply chains or face civil liability.

There will be EU-wide regulation too. This means that commercial organisations captured by the law will have to proactively identify and manage actual and potential human rights risks for workers in their operations, supply chains and services that they use.

But here in the UK, while we have a Conservative government ideologically wedded to corporate voluntarism, things won’t change. This is a business-as-usual approach, where commercial organisations can choose the labour rights and environmental standards they wish to meet without fear of being held accountable for the harm they cause.

That’s why at UNISON, working with allies such as the Corporate Justice Coalition, we are committed to calling for a new UK business, human rights and environment act to hold companies to account when they fail to prevent human rights abuses and environmental harms in global and local value chains through.

This is an important issue for all trade unions, and the Supermax case shows exactly why the public sector should be included within the scope of such a UK law too.

Watch a recording of an online meeting on labour standards in the rubber glove industry

The article Blog: We need a new law to protect human rights and the environment first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Environment Agency workers announce industrial action dates

UNISON members who protect communities during severe weather conditions will be taking part in industrial action from 12 December.

Members in the Environment Agency (EA) will take continuous action, short of strike, from that date.

The action will take the form of work to rule and includes:

  • only working contracted hours;
  • taking all scheduled breaks and having appropriate compensatory rest between work;
  • not doing any unpaid work outside contracted hours; and
  • disconnecting from work electronics outside contracted hours and during rest breaks.

UNISON is also asking members to consider withdrawing from incident rosters on the 12, 14, 16, 20 and 22 of December.

Vacancy levels across the agency are so high that services rely on the goodwill of staff to deliver vital services to protect communities and the environment from floods and pollution incidents.

UNISON national secretary for the environment Donna Rowe-Merriman said: “Staff across the environment agency have seen wages fall by over 20% as a result of over 12 years of pay austerity. The cost of living crisis is affecting the ability of staff to pay household bills and put food on the table.

“Workers have said loud and clear that enough is enough. The EA is underfunded and its staff are undervalued and underpaid. The failure to properly reward staff is leading to unprecedented vacancies – as staff vote with their feet in search of better paid jobs.

Ms Rowe-Merriman continued: “This failure to address the root cause of low pay forces the agency to pay external contractors even higher rates to fill the gaps or turn to remaining workers working overtime to provide vital services. Staff are often compelled to carry out overtime just to pay their household bills due to low pay in the EA affecting their family life”.

She concluded: “The government needs to ensure that public monies deliver decent pay for public sector workers – not inflated profits for contractors and dividends for shareholders”.

The article Environment Agency workers announce industrial action dates first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Get ready for Green UNISON Week

This September, the union is once again supporting and encouraging branches to mark Green UNISON Week, using it to celebrate, discuss and share how the union is working to green public services.

From 23 of September to 1 October, branches across the UK will be asked to consider organising a week of activities to call for urgent action to tackle climate change.

Green UNISON Week also gives members the chance to show support for the school climate strike on Friday 23 September.

Christina McAnea said: “The climate crisis could not be more real and is being felt across the globe. Green UNISON Week is our chance to focus in and highlight these issues – it also gives young people a global space to demand politicians take seriously the damage being done to our planet and act to save its future.

“Engaging with members and employers is vital if we are to ready ourselves and engage on this issue,” continued the general secretary.

“We’re encouraging branches to run a week of activities for members and most importantly to engage with employers on how they can reduce their own carbon footprints and ensure their employers have a plan to green their workplaces completely. It’s never been more important!”

Anti-trade union laws mean that UNISON branches cannot take strike action, but there are many ways to show support for the school campaigners and take part in Green UNISON Week.

We’ll be updating you on new events and activities that you can take part in nearer the event and there are some activity ideas and resources attached below for you to start mapping out the activities you want to run.

Key actions

Does your UNISON branch have an environment rep? If not, encourage your branch and any interested members to get involved and become green reps. You can find others who share your concerns about climate change and Green UNISON Week can be your springboard into starting a new green UNISON network where you work.

Find out what your employer is doing to reduce the organisation’s environmental impact. Ask your employer to share this information with UNISON.

Hold a UNISON green event. You could run a lunchtime stall in the canteen, a film show or a talk. Why not invite a speaker from a local environmental campaign group or a school student climate striker to support young people on the 23 September.

Run a green workplace training activity. Talk to your UNISON learning rep/s and look into running a lunchtime activity session for green reps and members who’d like to learn more.

Resources/events – with more to come nearer the time

Sign up to our network to receive green updates here, including guidance on green bargaining and being a green workplace rep.

Find out more about the Fridays for Future youth climate strike on 23 September here.

Find out how your branch can take part in the UK Big Green Week and in Scotland, at Stop Climate Chaos.

Be part of Green UNISON

Use hashtags #GreenUnison in Twitter and Facebook events, photographs and solidarity messages from your branch or as an individual.

Use UNISON’s Greening of Public services logo in your green work.

The article Get ready for Green UNISON Week first appeared on the UNISON National site.