More from TUC – Workplace Temperatures & Heat Strikes
Another important climate-related debate that took place at TUC this month was Motion 19, moved by BFAWU, on the risks to the health and safety of workers of rising temperatures and advocating for trade unions to join with climate campaigners in ‘Heat Strikes’.
The text of Motion 19 can be found at the end of this article.
General Secretary of BFAWU, Sarah Woolley, moved the motion and her speech can be found here:
Heat Strikes are proposed for when temperatures go above 36C. These are not union strikes in the legal sense, but can include direct action, protests, workplace lunchtime walkouts, awareness raising, lobbying of politicians or community actions. Find out more about Heat Strikes at ActionNetwork.org
The Greener Jobs Alliance has been doing significant work with local authorities and unions around the risks of excessive workplace temperatures.
Our film ‘All in a day’s work’, can be viewed here:
Motion 19 Climate change and workers’ health
Received from: BFAWU
With last year the hottest year on record, we are likely to experience record breaking heat again this summer, putting people at risk around the world.
Workers, trade unions, climate justice activists and organisations must unite in their struggle to build a mass movement for a change, where the poorest don’t pay the price for climate change.
The climate crisis is a trade union issue whether it is about a just transition, defending jobs or health and safety.
Congress welcomes the fact that the theme for 2024’s Workers’ Memorial Day was climate change and workers’ health as the impacts of climate change increasingly become an occupational hazard and a health and safety issue.
Congress agrees to campaign for the following:
i. set a national maximum working temperature
ii. put in place a heat wave furlough scheme
iii. make a climate action plan.
Congress welcomes the idea of organising a Heat Strike as joint days of action between workers, trade unions and climate justice groups using the youth climate strikes model.
The Heat Strike is not legal union strike but can take many forms by workers and citizens including direct actions, protests, workplace lunchtime walkouts, awareness raising, lobbying of politicians or community actions.
Congress therefore agrees to:
a. sign up to take part in Heat Strike this summer when temperatures go above 36 degrees
b. circulate and disseminate information about Heat Strike: https://actionnetwork.org/
c. download, print and distribute the Heat Strike leaflet in your branches: https://tinyurl.com/
d. support campaigns to establish a heat furlough and maximum workplace temperature.
Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union
AMENDMENT
After the third paragraph, add:
“Congress recognises that climate change is an immediate industrial issue for many sectors, such as firefighters, health workers, forestry workers, water industry workers and others tackling floods, wildfire, heatwaves and drought.”
Fire Brigades Union