SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER, 2009

UNISON ON A WAVE IN LONDON & GLASGOW CALLING FOR ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Nurses, local government workers, social workers and housing workers, will be amongst members of UNISON joining the Wave. They will be marching in Glasgow in a Scottish version of the Wave march in London to demand action to stop global warming, ahead of the Climate Change talks in Copenhagen.

At the climate change talks, the union will be adding it's voice to the call for a 'just transition', to make sure the move to a low carbon future is fair, worker friendly and includes green jobs.

Key to helping countries cope with the worst effects of climate change, will be increasing investment in their public sector, says the union. UNISON is also calling for an official recognition of the role trade unions can play in fighting climate change*, and for the public sector to be given a duty to lead in delivering best practice, a key role that has been recognised in the world-leading Scottish Climate Change Act, because of UNISON's campaigning.

Mike Jeram, UNISON's head of business and environment, said: "It is only right that world leaders commit to a 'just transition' when they meet in Copenhagen later this month. This must include green policies that are worker friendly, including good green jobs and training.

"Key to tackling climate change is making sure people change their behaviour at work. Unions have a network of branches, reaching into workplaces all over the world. Using this network to promote efficient green practise would be a good place to start. UNISON thinks this role should be officially recognised.

"Some countries will be hard hit by the effects of climate change. As a public sector union, we know that these regions will need to step up their investment in public services such as disaster prevention, energy efficiency, healthcare and water management. We hope that world leaders will help make this possible in their negotiations.

"Above all, we are marching to show the government we think it is vital they get a deal that protects the environment, communities and families, not only in Britain, but across the world, from global warming."

Fiona Montgomery, UNISON's Scottish Information Development Officer dealing with the environment said "UNISON has been a key player in the Stop Climate Change Scotland coalition, and we want governments to put investment into sustainable projects in the recovery from recession, and that the public sector is given a lead role to deliver best practice and ensure that our public services are as environmentally friendly as possible."

ENDS

Notes to editors: *The draft negotiating agreement that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be discussing, recognises the need for the active participation of all stakeholders in ensuring 'a just transition of the workforce'. UNISON believes this should be changed in order to explicitly recognise the distinctive role that unions play. The UNISON section of the march in both cities will have large helium balloons with them

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