Welcome to ...

• Labor Convergence on Climate: Moving Toward Union
  • Nominate Yourself or Others to Attend
• Why Unions Must Bargain Over Climate Change
• America's Labor Unions Agree that Climate Change Must Be Addressed
• Sociologist Finds Labor and Environmental Protection Linked
• GREEN NEW DEAL
  • Los Angeles AFL-CIO Endorses Green New Deal
  • Op-Ed Shows How Trade Unionists Can Advocate for the GND
  • The Green New Deal -- A Strategy for a More Equal United States
  • 18 Strategies for the Green New Deal
• Who We Are:
  • Featured LNS Board Member John Harrity
• More About Us
  • LNS - Making a Living on a Living Planet

Merriam-Webster defines “con·ver·gence” as “moving toward union.” The Labor Network for Sustainability organizes Labor Convergences on Climate to help lead the movement to create better jobs for workers now and a better environment for both their communities and our planet’s future. They aim to help create a powerful voice within organized labor to advocate for good jobs through a just transition to a climate-safe, worker-friendly economy in a timeline consistent with the scientific consensus.

The Convergences encourage climate protection advocates to organize locally and nationally in their own unions; advocate for climate solidarity with workers around the world; build cooperation among climate protection advocates and caucuses in different unions; educate labor’s leadership and rank and file on the realities of climate change; transform the discourse and ultimately the policy of the labor movement; and inspire local labor unions and activists to engage with climate and climate justice organizations and activists in their own communities. They are building a strong national movement that can resist the attacks on labor, communities, and environment.

They are:

• Promoting a public dialogue and debate within labor and climate movements.
• Developing a comprehensive policy agenda for climate action with a Just Transition.
• Providing a national vehicle and strategy for unions and union activists to take action on climate change. 

The First Labor Convergence on Climate was held on January 28-29, 2016. It approved a set of guiding principles, created a new network within the labor movement, and adopted a program to lead the labor movement on a climate change agenda.

• View short video of 2016 Convergence
• See photos

The theme of the Second Labor Convergence on Climate (ClimaCon2), held September 23-24, 2017 was “Building Worker Power to Confront Climate Change.” It sought to provide a space for labor’s growing base of elected leaders, organizers and rank and file activists to learn about their respective efforts, and update our organizing priorities and strategies for the next year. More than 130 people participated with representation from 17 unions, three state federations/central labor councils, and six labor support organizations (labor centers, policy groups, etc.), as well as key environmental and economic justice allies. Read the report »

In 2018 LNS began to hold a series of regional Convergences on Climate. The first was held on July  28, 2018 in Los Angeles. Feeling the urgency of both looming economic and environmental crises, the LA event was the launch of an honest dialogue around climate change for labor, “from labor to labor,” as Erica Zeitlin of AFSCME DC 36 put it.

At the outset of the gathering, the high stakes were made clear, captured in the words of Dave Campbell, USW 675, “organized labor needs to be at the table on climate change, or they will be the meal.” Hosted by AFSCME DC 36 and co-sponsored by seven union locals, the Convergence was the first regional event in concert with LNS. LA nurses, refinery, electrical and entertainment industry workers were part of a planning committee.

In addition, representatives from local unions of teachers, cinematographers, alongside construction, energy, sheet metal manufacturing, city and country workers, gathered together, as well as letter carriers, social workers, among others who attended the event. Also, important, ally environmental and environmental justice organizations with deep relationships with labor were in the room. Labor Network for Sustainability noted this work out of self-interest as labor – environmentalists aren’t job killers, climate change is the biggest job killer.

On November 17, 2018 the Labor Network for Sustainability organized the Northeast Regional Labor Convergence on Climate Change. The convergence brought together over 90 labor leaders and allies from eight states across the northeast to discuss labor’s role in the urgently needed transition to a just and sustainable economy that both protects the climate as well as the lives and livelihoods of workers and frontline communities that are threatened by climate catastrophe. Co-sponsored by the Labor Education Action Research Network and the Rutgers AAUP-AFT, the day-long intensive strategy session was convened at the Labor Education Center at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Attendees included nurses, carpenters, electrical workers, teachers, communication workers, transportation workers, postal workers, food service workers, public employees, and service industry workers from over 20 different unions. Learn more about the NE Labor Convergence on Climate »

The Third National Labor Convergence on Climate promises to be the largest and most exciting yet. Stay tuned for more in future issues of Making a Living on a Living Planet.

Nominate an Attendee, Space is Limited

Want to attend the LNS Third National Labor Convergence on Climate or nominate another person to attend? Complete this form to submit your nomination. We will accept up to five nominations per nominator. All names will be submitted to the National Planning Committee.

In a March 8 letter to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Edward Markey, the Energy Committee of the AFL-CIO stated, "America's labor unions agree that climate change must be addressed." It added, "It is critical that the voices of American workers be included in the discussion, especially those who are most at risk of job disruptions and economic dislocation as a result of those actions." And it said, "We are ready to discuss these issues in a responsible way, for we all recognize that doing nothing is not an option."

As a labor group concerned about threats both to the climate and to workers, the Labor Network for Sustainability (LNS) welcomes the Energy Committee's call for the voices of American workers to be included in the discussion and the Committee’s readiness to discuss these issues. Indeed, we believe that the voices of all segments of the working class and of the labor movement should be heard on how to address the climate emergency.

We agree with the letter's proposals to "invest in energy efficiency in the industrial and commercial sectors, retrofits and upgrades to schools and public buildings, and to make our communities safe and resilient." Indeed, we think the labor movement should be discussing an even broader set of investments that provide millions of jobs by making the transition to a climate-safe energy system in all sectors.

We also agree that "all of these investments must be paired with strong labor and procurement standards to grow family-sustaining, middle-class union jobs." We join with the Energy Committee in encouraging policymakers to develop such standards and incorporate them in plans for climate protection policies.

The letter states that the "the Green New Deal resolution" proposed by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Markey is "too short on specific solutions that speak to the jobs of our members." The LNS discussion paper "18 Strategies for a Green New Deal" lays out a program for how worker needs, labor rights, and union interests can be protected and advanced within the framework of the Green New Deal. The LNS National Labor Convergence on Climate this July will provide diverse union members a chance to speak out on their views and proposals for incorporating such concerns in the framework of the Green New Deal.

We appreciate the Energy Committee's stated readiness to discuss these issues. We believe a constructive discussion should address three objectives:

1. Protect the livelihood and wellbeing of those who are "at risk of job disruptions and economic dislocation" as a result of climate change and policies to address it.
2. Eliminate the production of greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels on the timetable required to meet the science-based Paris agreement goals.
3. Use the transition to a climate-safe economy to realize greater economic, social, racial, and gender justice.

We believe that a properly constructed Green New Deal can realize all three of these goals. We encourage all sections of the labor movement to join with others in constructive discussion of how these goals can be realized.

unionize and expand building/construction, maintenance and operation career opportunities in renewable energy, climate adaptation, energy efficiency, mass transit, waste management, high speed rail and other greenhouse gas reducing projects that will improve the quality of life for all residents; and

WHEREAS: Without the leadership of California labor, California would not be able to boast the utility scale solar that makes it a national leader with more than 14,000 megawatts of renewable generation mora than the states of Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah combined; and

WHEREAS: These accomplishments have been made possible by the leadership and resources provided by unions in sectors as diverse as the building and construction trades, transportation, government and health care using the power of collective political action, project labor agreements and collective bargaining; and

WHEREAS: Despite Los Angeles’ leadership on environmental and economic issues, too many Angelenos, especially people of color and those living in low-income communities, continue to be exposed to life-threatening levels of pollution and contaminants; and

WHEREAS: Affiliates of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO have led some of the most cutting-edge campaigns that embody the stated conceptual principles of the Green New Deal proposed by some in Congress – from reducing car pollution through the expansion of our rail system to ensuring clean and safe water for all with the passage Measure W to diverting waste from our landfills and state wide campaigns that have organized existing industries including the energy sector thus mandating a skilled and trained workplace creating a safer and cleaner environment; and

WHEREAS: Affiliates of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO leadership on these issues have also created thousands of career opportunities for residents from some of our most economically disadvantaged communities through provisions in collective bargaining agreements, project labor agreements and joint labor-management apprenticeship programs; and

WHEREAS: The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor passed a resolution to support the Labor Network for Sustainability Convergence held on July 28, 2018 at AFSCME DC 36’s union hall, where leaders from several labor leaders met for a full day to build unity around issues impacting the environment and union jobs; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO supports a Green New Deal or similar effort that is consistent with the groundbreaking policies passed here in Los Angeles that affirms and expands the ability of workers to join a union, the payment of prevailing wages, and execution of project labor agreements; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO supports a Green New Deal or similar effort that provides career opportunities for people of color, low-income communities and women utilizing labor-supported preparation and apprenticeship programs and a skilled and trained workforce that simultaneously protects existing union jobs; and

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO will continue to develop, support and advocate for the policies and programs driven by our affiliates that addresses the climate change crisis, increases safety and air quality on industrial sites while protecting union jobs, affirms and creates union jobs for and improves the lives of our most disadvantaged communities and all working families across California.

John was also a founding member and vice chair of the CT Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Coalition, a fuel cell industry group. John just retired from 38 years of active involvement in the International Association of Machinists Union (IAM), including 32 years on staff as an organizer, communications director, legislative coordinator and business rep.

John is a recipient of IAM’s Bob Kalasky Outstanding Achievements Award for Communications. John served as President of the CT State Council of Machinists from 2012 to 2018. He also represented CT labor on the CT Employment and Training Commission and the Manufacturing Innovation Fund Advisory Board.

John has a BA from the University of Connecticut and an MA from the University of Massachusetts in Labor Studies. He started as a Vertical Turret Lathe operator at Pratt & Whitney in 1979.

John is also an instrumental participant on the LNS Third National Convergence planning committee. Thank you, John for all of the expertise and hard work you bring to LNS!