STRIKING FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE: Episode 2/ Trade Unions

Presenter: Vivien Langford 

Producer: Andy Britt 

Trade Unions are responding to the global call for action on September 20th. Will you join them?

This will be 3 days before the UN Emergency Climate Summit in N.Y. Greta Thunberg will arrive by sailboat bringing with her the hopes of many children unable to vote.

Naomi Klein starts the show with a question "What are climate jobs?".

Dr Colin Long answers. He is the Just Transition Officer for the Victorian Trades Hall Council. STRIKING in Australia involves harsher penalties than in any other OECD country. But workers from many unions are up for the task of a transition whose scale and cost is unprecedented. They want jobs they can be proud of but do not want to be abandoned as in previous restructuring.

 Dr Janet Roden takes us to the coal and gas communities she visits for the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association. You will be horrified to learn of the impact on babies even born 200km away from the climate changing pollution. She finds community members confused because there is no clear transition plan. "It's just steam" they say. This is highlighted in her research report for the NSWNMA, "Muswellbrook: between eight coal mines and two power stations". We cannot see the climate impact of the emissions from coal stations and gas wells  but the effect on babies and children is witnessed by midwives and nurses every day. She explains why the NSW NMA wants to stand with the children on September 20th.

Erima Dall was inspired by the Green Bans and AYCC when she was at university. Now a member of the MUA she drives a crane and is well aware of the tragedies caused by our emissions overseas. She is an eloquent speaker and tells us why  MUA members will join the strike on September 20th.

Chris Breen is a teacher and member of the AEU. His article "Lessons we can learn from the last Climate Movement" takes us beyond the vague slogans of " Climate action" and "Just transitions". He wants the climate movement to be on the front foot as BZE is, to find where jobs can be created by a nimble government  e.g. building the first solar thermal plant at Port Augusta or kickstarting the export of renewable energy from the Northern Territory.

Thanks to the MUA who hosted the meeting about the September 20th strike, where I met or heard about today's guests. Thanks to Stephen Langford for liaising.