UK public service union launches green newsletter

The Public Service Union Unison have launched a new electronic newsletter, Green Unison, that you can sign up to receive here -

http://www.unison.org.uk/news/mailinglist.asp

Not a huge leap forward, but nevertheless a welcome and positive move in the right direction. The first newsletter also reported on the recent International Trade Union conference that took place in New York -

UNISON has taken part in an international conference on trade unions and climate change in New York. The conference attracted trade unionists from around the world as well as representatives from environmental groups. Participants addressed a wide range of issues, including renewable energy, green collar jobs, the low carbon economy and how to build stronger ties between the labour and environmental movements.

UNISON policy officer David Arnold, who spoke at a workshop on the issue of carbon trading, said the conference showed how unions could come together with environmental groups on a shared agenda of green jobs and a better environment. He pointed out that at the end of the day the USA has to change because it is the biggest per capita polluter on the planet. “The way the US unions are working out what climate change means for the economy and recognising the scope for coming together with environmental groups to campaign for green jobs is a lesson to us all,” he said.

Meanwhile the Green Party Trade Union Group (GPTU)continues its' work to make the Party relate better to the unions and organised workers and to be effective in presenting the Party and its' policies to that audience.