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FIRST STEPS TO A GREENER WORKPLACE
A TUC GUIDE
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September 2006
- FIRST STEPS TO A GREENER WORKPLACE
- WHY IS CLIMATE CHANGE A UNION ISSUE?
- DANGEROUS CLIMATE CHANGE
- UNIONS WORKING TOGETHER/ TUSDAC
- DO UNIONS REALLY CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT?
- WHAT CAN WE DO?
- UNIONS IN ACTION
- GREENING THE REGIONS
- ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS AT WORK
- THE KYOTO TREATY AND GREENHOUSE GASES
- HELP TACKLE GLOBAL WARMING
- THE TUC'S GREEN WORKPLACES PROJECT
WHY IS CLIMATE CHANGE A UNION ISSUE?
GLOBAL WARMING IS A CHALLENGE TO US ALL
Temperatures are rising because we are consuming fossil fuels at an unsustainable rate. If we don't start to act now then many fear the changes we already see happening - such as melting ice, rising sea levels, drought and deforestation - will be irreversible.
Climate change is most definitely a union issue. The workplaces that we organise - and seek to organise - burn energy, consume resources and generate waste. Industry alone is responsible for over half of carbon dioxide emissions increasing the greenhouse effect every year.
We must act. Some of the measures needed are straightforward and relatively painless. Others may be more difficult. But unions have to be involved - winning workforce commitment, pushing reluctant employers and making sure that far-reaching change is fairly negotiated.
Making workplaces sustainable is the key to making jobs sustainable. The challenge of climate change is also an opportunity to engage with the young, who are particularly aware of the threat it poses.
Trade unionists have a special insight into the battle against climate change. We understand the power of collective action. Individuals can best tackle climate change when working together.
Just as we understand the power of the collective in the workplace, we also understand the need for international solidarity. Climate change is a global threat requiring global action. The UK alone emits just two per cent of the world's carbon dioxide but if everyone in the world lived as we do, we would need at least three planets to support us.
Intergovernmental action through the Kyoto Treaty is essential. That is why the TUC supports the International Confederation of Free Trades Unions in its work on climate change.
The TUC has funding to support up to six green workplace pilot projects over the next year. The GreenWorkplaces project aims to develop further successful workplace initiatives like those highlighted in the 2005 Greening the Workplace report. If you would like help to develop a green workplace project at a particular workplace, please contact cmolloy@tuc.org.uk (tel 0207 467 1332).
Together we can help tackle climate change.
DANGEROUS CLIMATE CHANGE
Barely a week passes without further evidence emerging of the accelerating rate of environmental change. Droughts in Africa, record summer temperatures across Europe, coastal flooding and the melting of the ice-caps have become mainstays of news reporting.
Predicted rises in sea levels threaten nearly half of the world's major cities. The European heat wave in 2003 caused some 30,000 deaths, with $13.5bn direct costs. Forecasters are predicting more extreme weather in the future.
Scientists are also increasingly concerned about the accelerating 'feedback' effects of climate change - for example, white ice caps reflect the sun's energy, but once exposed, the darker surfaces of land and sea absorb it. Climate change poses a major challenge to world food security and population stability.
The Government was right to make climate change and Africa the twin themes of its G8 Presidency. There is a direct link between action on climate change and our international responsibility to promote development and fight poverty through Millennium Development Goals, an issue in which the TUC has played a leading role.
RISING CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE - THE PAST 60,000 YEARS
Throughout the history of humankind, temperature and carbon dioxide levels have risen and fallen within natural limits. However since the industrial revolution, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been artificially increased, to unprecedented levels. Most scientists expect temperatures to follow, unless action is taken now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
UNIONS WORKING TOGETHER/ TUSDAC
A joint forum with the minister for the environment meets regularly to progress environmental matters for trade unions. Through TUSDAC (Trade Union Sustainable
Development Advisory Committee) unions have developed training materials on environmental action for union reps in the workplace.
In addition we secured a secondment to DEFRA for a trade union researcher to produce the 2005 Greening the Workplace report. Recently, TUSDAC secured funding from the Carbon Trust for a TUC-based worker to develop capacity within unions for joint pilots on energy saving in the workplace.
TUSDAC is co-chaired by Paul Noon, General Secretary (Prospect) and Environment Minister Ian Pearson. For more info on TUSDAC, and to be added to our greenworkplaces e-mail list, please contact ppearson@tuc.org.uk
See the TUSDAC website at www.sustainableworkplace.co.uk for more details.
DO UNIONS REALLY CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT?
Yes! Unions have long campaigned for a safer, healthier working and living environment. In the past we have tackled hazards like asbestos and more recently greenhouse gases and air pollution. A 2004 survey of union reps showed that almost all respondents felt the Government should be doing more to combat global warming. Eight out of ten felt trade unions should be doing more to protect the environment.
Unions and the environment
| Agree/ Strongly Agree | Disagree/ Strongly Disagree | |
| I would support environmental measures in my workplace | 99% | 1% |
| The government should do more to combat global warming | 95% | 4% |
| Unions should be doing more to protect the environment | 82% | 14% |
| Union representatives should carry out environmental audits | 66% | 32% |
| I am concerned that environmental policies could lead to job losses | 17% | 81% |
| Companies can be trusted to take care of the environment | 3% | 95% |
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Unions are actively promoting sustainable development initiatives in a wide range of industrial and services sectors - manufacturing, energy and water utilities, construction, central and local government, education, the NHS, road, rail and air transport.
Our approach to sustainable development includes:
- Consulting our membership
- Developing a joint energy and environment agenda with management
- Good terms and conditions and a quality working environment
- Tackling wider issues, such as ethical investment and fair trade.
In some unions an environmental rep is elected to work alongside shop stewards and safety reps - especially where there is already a heavy workload on union reps. In other places, shops stewards or health and safety reps take on the environment role.
SUSTAINABLE WORKPLACE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
TUSDAC encourages unions to negotiate a sustainable workplace framework agreement with their employer, setting out:
- Joint commitments to improving environmental performance
- Principles of employee participation
- A joint sustainable workplace policy, and the issues it will cover - like energy use, energy sources, resource and waste management
- Mutual responsibilities and joint procedures for dealing with issues
- Targets, and how they will be monitored and assessed
- Sustainability objectives integrated with the employer's statutory health and safety policy and with its risk assessment process.
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?
The classic United Nations definition is:
'Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, while keeping within the Earth's ability to supply resources and absorb waste.'
United Nations Commission on Environment and Development, 1987
It contains within it two key ideas:
- meeting the essential needs of the world's poor, to whom overriding priority should be given; and
- the idea of limits on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.
UNIONS IN ACTION
Unions around the country are doing their bit for the environment. These are just some examples from Greening the Workplace to illustrate the range of current union initiatives. Our thanks to union colleagues for providing this information.
PROSPECT AND SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, EDINBURGH
Inspired by an energy-saving workshop, members persuaded the college's environment committee to undertake a range of energy-saving measures. The results led to major cuts in electricity bills, followed by other initiatives in waste management and energy efficiency.
THE T&G AND MILLENNIUM CHEMICALS
For more than 15 years, union reps have been ensuring that environmental concerns are fully integrated with health and safety issues at Millennium Chemicals, Humberside. Union reps have encouraged a workforce commitment to working together in the interests of the environment, assisted by environmental training and green briefings on a regular basis.
BRISTOL UNIVERSITY WORKPLACE TRAVEL PLANS
Following extensive consultations with university unions and staff groups, a parking priority system was agreed. Applicants for a parking permit must be able to show they have investigated public transport alternatives. The two main priority groups are (a) staff or students with a disabled driver's badge or staff who are 'formal car sharers' (sharing three days a week or more); and (b) staff with caring responsibilities.
UNIONS AT UNITED UTILITIES
Because of the critical importance of environment risk management at United Utilities, UNISON, Amicus, GMB, TGWU, and Prospect set up a joint Health, Safety and Environment Committee. Environmental risk assessment now forms part of the company's corporate sustainability policy. Its programmes highlight a number of risk factors, such as surface and groundwater quality, resources depletion, energy use and biodiversity, and community impact. Performance indicators have been developed for each of these risk areas.
PCS MEMBERS AT HM REVENUE
PCS members have developed a comprehensive sustainable development policy, involving energy awareness and green travel initiatives, jointly with management. The energy awareness campaign has led to 66 per cent of office waste being recycled - saving £39,000. A recycling scheme covers paper, plastics, glass, cans and more.
UNIONS AS EMPLOYERS
Unions such as Community and PCS have agreed environmental policies for their own operations. Community's policy covers operational and support services such as facilities management, office services, printing, publishing and procurement. Nationally, PCS launched a Fair and Ethical Trade Purchasing Policy and Guidance Toolkit in 2005. The toolkit embeds both labour and environmental standards into the procurement of goods and services such as office supplies, catering, promotional items and discounts schemes for members. A direct outcome of the policy has been a major increase in expenditure on products made from recycled materials over the past year.
GREENING THE REGIONS
Across the regions and in Scotland and Wales, unions and the TUC are promoting green workplace activities and taking the green agenda to the
Regional Development Agencies, Welsh Assembly Government and Scottish Executive. Here are some examples:
The Northern TUC is developing a joint project with One NorthEast (the North East Regional Development Agency) to deliver a unique trade union contribution in the North East to tackling workplace energy inefficiency, harmful CO2 emissions and more sustainable use of resources. Its Guide to Greening the Workplace outlines steps that union reps can take to protect the environment of workers and local communities.
Meanwhile the South West TUC is working closely with the RDA and Assembly on the huge potential to build a regional economy around sustainable development and the protection of its natural environment. There are projects to harness the power of the wind, waves and tide. One priority is pushing for new buildings to use sustainable construction techniques.
In the South East, a report from the Social Dialogue Forum highlights a number of successful joint union-employer initiatives on energy savings and green travel plans.
ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS AT WORK
For unions to be effective in developing sustainable workplaces, training backed up by sufficient time off work for union duties and training are essential. A number of unions and the TUC now run environment courses - see inside back cover.
Where changes take place in the workplace - whether to job roles, work processes or with new developments such as a green travel plan - it is important that they are negotiated properly, explained, understood, and seen to be fair.
Trade union members must be able to respond both to employer-led changes and to be able to raise their own issues. This means:
- A wider brief for union representatives to include sustainable development
- Giving reps the right to tackle environmentally-friendly measures, such as energy saving, waste strategies and travel plans; and
- Union involvement in environmental monitoring and management systems.
However, many union reps tell us they find it hard getting paid release to attend environment courses offered by unions and the TUC. That's why, in line with Congress policy, the TUC is pressing the Government to give stronger support and recognition for these duties, through appropriate amendments to the ACAS Code of Practice, Time off for Trade Union Duties and Activities.
THE KYOTO TREATY AND GREENHOUSE GASES
WHAT IS THE KYOTO TREATY?
In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol committed each signatory nation to a target for reductions in its greenhouse gases by 2012. Kyoto's long-term aim is to limit the average increase in global temperature to below 2 degrees centigrade. This will require huge reductions in CO2 emissions by 2050.
So far, 127 nations have signed up to Kyoto. Industrialised nations emit two-thirds (61.6%) of the world's CO2. The US was emitting 36.1% in 1990 but abandoned the Protocol in 2001. The TUC supports the work being undertaken by the UK Government to bring the US and Australia back into the Kyoto fold.
The Government's energy and climate change strategies involve ambitious measures to cut CO2 emissions, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, promote energy efficiency and cut waste. It is committed to moving beyond the minimum target set by Kyoto, with national goals, set in 1997, to reduce carbon emissions by:
- 20% below 1990 levels by 2010
- 60% below 1990 levels by 2050.
WHAT ARE GREENHOUSE GASES?
Climate change is driven by the accumulation in the atmosphere of greenhouse gases that trap the sun's heat. The greatest amount of pollution comes from carbon dioxide (CO2), released from consuming fossil fuels (oil, petrol, diesel, natural gas, coal, wood).
The six greenhouse gases (GHGs) targeted in the Kyoto Treaty are still widely used in industry:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) Carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, petrol, natural gas).
- Methane The principal component of natural gas.
- Nitrous oxide 'Laughing gas' widely used as a propellant in aerosol cans, a booster to fuels, and in nylon production.
- Hydrofluorocarbons Substitutes for CFCs. Industrial uses include solvent/cleaning agents, aluminium smelting, foam-blowing agents, and air conditioning fluids.
- Perfluorocarbons By-products of aluminium production.
- Sulphur hexafluoride Primarily used in the electronics industry as insulation in switchgear and circuit breakers.
'Climate change is the most severe problem that we are facing today - more serious even than the threat of terrorism.': Sir David King, chief scientific adviser to the government
'How could I look my grandchildren in the eye and say I knew about this and I did nothing?': David Attenborough
HELP TACKLE GLOBAL WARMING
10 SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO AT WORK
- Switch all computer equipment, appliances, motors and machinery off when not in use, for example at lunchtime. Modern appliances still use energy if left on standby. They are designed to cope with being turned on and off frequently.
- Take the stairs not the lift - it is often quicker, and you'll get fit too. Climbing six flights of stairs a day could result in a weight loss of nearly 18lbs a year!
- If your workplace is hot enough to wear summer clothes in winter, turn the heating down. Work with union and Health & Safety reps to address over-heating caused by equipment or poor ventilation.
- If it is too cold, ensure radiators and heaters aren't obstructed and ask your employer to install better insulation or even Combined Heat & Power.
- Check if lighting is on unnecessarily in the middle of the day, particularly near windows. 80% of the UK's lighting energy is used at work - much of it wasted.
- If you are the last to leave work, make sure you turn everything off behind you, including printers, drinks machines, fans, lights, etc. Better still, leave earlier, and turn everything off earlier!
- Consider setting up a green travel plan. Some employers now offer incentives for lower energy ways of travelling, eg cycling, public transport, car-sharing and walking (or you could invest in a pedometer and practice getting up to 10,000 steps a day). If you have to drive, you could find out about training in efficient driving techniques and lower emissions vehicles.
- Recycling is great, but reducing waste and re-using is even better. Print on both sides of paper, re-use envelopes, and think about ways of reducing other waste that is generated in your workplace. Landfill waste creates greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
- Think about how water is used at work - can it be reduced? Water is a precious resource, even in the UK, and pumping and heating it also uses energy.
- If there are barriers, talk to your workmates and your union about working out solutions. Over half the UK's energy is directly used in the workplace. Acting collectively, you can be part of the solution.
LEARN MORE AT www.sustainableworkplace.co.uk
THE TUC'S GREEN WORKPLACES PROJECT
This TUC-led project aims to raise awareness and build union capacity to tackle climate change and energy issues at work and in key energy using sectors. Engaging with our members and employers is crucial in tackling the challenge of greening the workplace. We aim to build on practical experience outlined in Greening the Workplace (2005).
Contact: Caroline Molloy at the TUC
Tel: 0207 467 1332 Email: cmolloy@tuc.org.uk
The GreenWorkplaces Project is supported by a grant from The Carbon Trust Networks programme. For details of TUC courses on the environment in your region, go to www.unionlearn.org.uk, search under environment. Or contact your union education service for further details.
Greening the workplace - a report from the TUSDAC unions: available from www.sustainableworkplace.co.uk
Greening the office - FOE Scotland's greening the office website, for online audit and factsheets: www.green-office.org.uk/audit
For the Northern TUC's booklet A Guide to Greening the Workplace, go to: www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-11528f0.cfm?regional=3
For more information on climate change issues:
www.foe.org.uk/campaigns/climate/
Report (3,000 words) issued 22 Nov 2006
