By Maria Brescia-Weiler, LNS Staff
The Young Worker Climate Convergence at the IBEW Local 11 office in Los Angeles, California from September 15th-18th will bring together young workers (18-35) who believe unions and union members have a crucial role to play in responding to the climate crisis. Through discussions, workshops and panels around place-based and sectoral challenges and opportunities in labor-climate organizing, we hope to create a space for young workers to gain a deeper understanding of where they are in the labor-climate landscape, who is around them, and how they can learn from each others’ efforts, laying the groundwork for sustained collaboration between young workers at the intersection of economic and environmental justice.
The AFL-CIO convention in June passed “Resolution 14: Renewing the Promise of Young Workers,” acknowledging the necessity of investing in projects like this one to harness the momentum of young workers in the labor movement. They recognized that “For too many young workers, the American dream is an unattainable fantasy they will work toward but never realize…Young workers are fighting for transparency, dignity in the workplace and increased opportunities for people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities.”
From 1:1 conversations with over 70 young workers from across the country representing more than 25 different unions and environmental organizations, LNS’s Young Workers Listening Project knows that taking collective action to confront the climate crisis is central to young workers’ fight for a more equitable and just economy, and that investing in young workers means investing in a sustainable future. In light of this renewed commitment, there has never been a better time to bring young workers together to build a common narrative and ensure that their voices are heard in the growing labor-climate movement.
If you are interested in attending the Young Worker Climate Convergence, email Maria at [email protected].