A recent headline from the Machinists union proclaims “IAM Takes Bold Steps in Addressing Climate Crisis and Embracing Green Technologies.” It reports that the 2024 IAM Grand Lodge Convention in August passed a groundbreaking climate resolution:
“Members passed a resolution to include the concept of ‘Just Transition.’
This concept asserts that workers displaced from jobs by climate change should receive supplemental income, insurance, and pension benefits. It aims to address and correct the inequities faced by people of color who have been systematically excluded from jobs in the energy sector. Additionally, it seeks to support their communities, which have been disproportionately impacted by the presence of highly polluting power plants.
The resolution also includes language to ensure that green technology used in America is made in America and by IAM members. This commitment to ‘Just Transition’ underscores IAM’s dedication to social justice and equality in the face of climate change.
The vote on the resolution was preceded by release of a study conducted for the IAM by Cornell University in partnership with the IAM Strategic Resources Department and Communications. Shortly before the vote delegates heard a panel with Zach Cunningham of the Cornell University Climate Jobs Institute and John Harrity, retired President of the Connecticut State Council, President Emeritus of the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, and member of the LNS Board of Directors. Harrity told the convention, You have heard some about the dangers of climate, and the incredible opportunities it can also mean in terms of organizing workers in the emerging green technologies. “This fight on climate change is literally about our collective survival – but it is also about our growth and renewal as a union if we are smart enough to seize the opportunities before us.”
The IAM notes that
The IAM’s proactive stance on climate change is a testament to its commitment to not only preserving the planet but also securing a prosperous future for its members. By embracing innovative solutions and advocating for sustainable industrial practices, IAM is leading by example in the labor movement’s fight against climate change. This advocacy involves not only implementing green technologies within IAM-represented industries but also influencing and encouraging key players to adopt and advocate sustainable practices.”
To read more about the IAM Convention’s action on climate and see its climate panel: IAM Takes Bold Steps in Addressing Climate Crisis and Embracing Green Technologies, Releases Report on Clean Energy Economy for the Future – IAMAW
To read the full report “Reclaiming Our Future: A Climate Jobs Agenda for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers”: https://2024convention.s3.amazonaws.com/IAM_ConventionReport_R2.pdf