Resources 31
PSI policy on the environment

The environment is a workplace issue. It must be rooted in workers' workaday concerns. It is also an issue of global concern, but if we as trade unions can tackle the items that are of concern to workers then we will be well on the way to addressing the larger agenda.

In this regard it is worth noting that many environment groups in the trade union movement have grown out of union occupational health and safety committees. Environmental activists in trade unions are aware of the links with occupational health and safety activists. Yet, many environmental issues go well beyond health and safety issues and unions see a need for specific work on the environment.

Of concern to many members and their negotiators is the temptation for employers to appear to agree with the need to fund greener workplaces or practices and then argue that public sector workers' wages and conditions must be cut to pay for this.

Many affiliates have among their membership workers who have direct environmental skills, knowledge or responsibilities. These people are often involved in assisting unions to influence governmental and inter-governmental policies, in drawing up trade union action plans, in lobbying employers and other key interest groups.

Union lobbying work includes: getting governments to take an active role in the economy from a sustainable development perspective; adopting serious environmental standards for industry; funding inspectorates effectively; prosecuting offenders with determination. There is an essential role for the state in standard setting, monitoring, inspection and protection for the environment. This public control must be fully, transparently and democratically accountable. Public sector unions struggle to become social partners in these processes. Such processes are impossible without comprehensive freedom of information legislation and practice.

It is important to avoid over-reliance on solutions of a purely technical nature. Trade unions, especially in industrial nations, encourage members to change some of their personal behaviour in the interests of sustainable development. Those with the most resources should make the first and most dramatic changes in their own use of the planet's resources. But we also insist on equity and social responsibility towards workers adversely affected by environmental policies, especially where there is worker displacement.

Public sector unions increasingly form coalitions with community and special interest groups. Such coalitions are most effective when they are in touch with local community feeling or concerns and can be a powerful means by which trade unions can be environmentally effective. Thinking globally but acting locally is a good basis for trade union action on the environment.

In many countries, the needs are clear and simple: clean water, clean air, healthy housing, good sewerage. The satisfaction of these basic worker demands would go a long way to creating jobs and sustainable development.

Our work and policies on the environment and related issues can be found in: