On October 24 a new labor union coalition released the California Worker Climate Bill of Rights calling on legislators to take urgent action to support workers through the economic upheaval and hazardous conditions wrought by a rapidly changing climate.
The new coalition, California Labor for Climate Jobs (CLCJ), includes labor unions representing public sector workers, teachers, oil workers, utility workers, domestic workers, healthcare workers, farmworkers, janitors, autoworkers and more. Coalition members have pledged to stand in solidarity with each other as they fight for a worker-led transition with policy solutions to improve California’s economy for low-income workers and communities of color.
According to Kathryn Lybarger, President of AFSCME 3299 representing workers at the University of California,
Every working Californian is impacted by climate change and the massive restructuring of our economy that is already underway,” said Kathryn Lybarger, President of AFSCME 3299 representing workers at the University of California. “If we leave it to big business, the transition will mean unplanned layoffs, the creation of low-wage jobs and the decimation of our public sector. For working people to thrive under a changing climate we need the opposite – new and stronger labor protections, expanded public services for our communities and safety nets for workers in shuttering industries.
LA Times Coverage by Sammy Roth:
https://calaborforclimatejobs.org/boiling-point-can-climate-activists-and-labor-unions-find-common-ground/
For more on California Labor for Climate Jobs:
California Labor for Climate Jobs
For the California Worker Climate Bill of Rights:
California Worker Climate Bill of Rights