TUC South West declares climate emergency 

Today, TUC South West, representing the 48 trade unions in the region, has declared a climate emergency and are calling for trade unions to be at the heart of every workplace discussion on how to transform our economy. 

At the same time, the TUC have launched a roadmap - A just transition to a greener, fairer economy – that meets the needs of working people in the transition to a low-carbon economy. 

The TUC roadmap sets out the need for: 

1. A Just Transition Commission: a cross-party national commission including business, consumers and unions to plan a clear and funded path to a low-carbon economy. 
2. Workplace Transition Agreements: to put workers’ voices at the heart of transition plans in every workplace where change is required. 
3. Transition skills funding: so that every worker has access to training in the new skills needed for a low carbon economy, and guaranteed pathways to new work. 
4. Employment standard protections: to ensure new jobs in the low carbon economy are not of lower quality than jobs that are changed or superseded. 

Speaking on the announcement, Regional Secretary of the TUC South West Nigel Costley said: 

“Trade unions are committed to addressing the climate emergency. A greener economy can be a fairer economy too, with new work opportunities and better jobs right across the South West.” 

“It’s vital that we avoid the repeated mistakes seen in the last century, when industrial change devastated communities because workers had no say. From the Cornish mines to the Honda factory closure, we need a plan that everyone can get behind, with workers’ voices at the heart of it.” 

“That’s why we’re calling for a politicians, businesses, consumers and unions to make those plans together, through a Just Transition Commission.”