date: 9 December 2005

embargo: immediate

Give greenhouse gas reduction a jobs dimension

As the Montreal Kyoto conference draws to a close, Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, supported calls from the international trade union delegation in Montreal for an 'employment commitment' in the Kyoto Treaty.

He said, 'Trades unions are rightly looking for the development of an employment and industrial strategy alongside the Kyoto Treaty. Greenhouse gas reduction targets must be accompanied by action to help workers affected through education, training and consultation through their unions.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Today trade unions address governments from throughout the world about climate change. During the closing plenary the Secrétaire Conféderal de la Fédération Des Syndicats De Belgique (FGTB), M. Daniel Van Daele will provide a wrap-up of trade union activities during the UNFCCC's 12th Conference of the Parties. He also will outline the programme of work on climate change for trade unions over the next year. The speech can be found at http://www.global-unions.org/pdf/ohsewpP_7g.EN.pdf

Addressing the closing plenary is a first for the ICFTU.

His key points:

*Incorporate social & employment provisions within implementation plans for the current and

2nd commitment periods;

* Foster worker & trade union participation, through tangible steps for education, training &

awareness raising, and

*Agree on strong climate change targets for Kyoto's 2nd period.

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Contacts:

Media enquiries: Ben Hurley T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07881 622416 ; E: bhurley@tuc.org.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk

Skills for Life and media enquiries: Dan Ashley T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07880 504846;
E: dashley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (400 words) issued 9 Dec 2005