The AMWU is encouraging members to get involved in the debate on Climate Change, by signing up to the Australian Council of Trade Union’s ‘climate connectors’ program.
Mike Nicolaides, Secretary of the Technical, Supervisory & Administrative Division of the union, said that the more unionists became involved in the climate change debate, the more influence we could have to make sure that outcomes for both the environment and employment were achieved.
The Climate Connectors program gives unionists the resources to understand the causes of climate change as well as practical solutions and opportunities for job creation in low-carbon industries.
To find out more, visit http://climateconnectors.org/
The AWMU this week called on the federal government to focus its climate policies on creating real jobs in the renewable industry sector, and also ensure it has a plan for jobs in existing carbon intensive industries.
NSW Secretary, Tim Ayres, raised concerns after a tender to manufacture photo-voltaic cells at Homebush, west of Sydney, failed to win a contract with a government-sponsored solar program supposed to help establish a local solar-industry.
“The Commonwealth government needs to make sure that if it's going to build confidence for climate change policy that it's got a jobs policy as well,” he said.
The contract would have created 250 jobs in solar manufacturing.