ETUC Green Workplaces Network – Briefing 1 March 2012

The TUC is working with the ETUC to set up a European Green Workplaces Network. We have a year's funding from the European Commission to set up the network, undertake some activities at workplace level and produce a new green reps handbook.

The TUC's Greenworkplace projects are dealing with a whole range of issues at work, from energy saving and recycling g initiatives to green travel plans and in the strongest cases, setting up new joint environmental committees with management. This is also true of many other trade unions across the EU - as we are finding out as the project develops.

These projects have a huge amount to offer in saving energy and resources, a top priority for the European Commission in 2012.

This first Briefing describes the key aims of the project. Further Briefings will be published on progress on the various fronts - the handbook, new green workplace projects, and the big national Green Reps Conference at the TUC on 2 July.

ETUC Green Workplaces Network - what is involved?

Partners:

• ETUC - as project coordinator.
• FGTB (Belgium)
• Arbeid en Milieu (Labor and Environment), Flemish organisation linked to CSC-ACV.
• TUC (UK)
• European Metalworkers Federation (EMF)
• European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU).

Organisation:

1. The ETUC has set up a Steering Group (within the ETUC).
2. TUC has set up a National Green Workplace Network Steering Group through the TUC's Trade Unions Sustainable Development Advisory Committee (TUSDAC).
3. Organise a national seminar to promote worker information and consultation on environmental questions.
4. Produce an ETUC Green Workplaces Handbook, with practical advice and case studies on energy and resource efficiency, with contributions from each project partner. Caroline Molly is leading on this work.
5. Develop and provide environmental training material for worker representatives.
6. Identify and develop up to 5 Green Workplace initiatives in each project partner, whether in the public and private sectors, supported by joint employer-union-employee activities (training, surveys, etc). Sarah Pearce and Graham Petersen are leading on this work.
7. Disseminate all this information in a European conference (100 participants, 6 working languages) to be held in Brussels in October 2012.