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CWU To Get Involved With Climate Solidarity Project

Tony Kearns, CWU’s Senior Deputy General Secretary has written to all CWU Branches asking for those interested in being invoved in the Climate Solidarity Project to advise CWU HQ.

Tony KearnsIn his letter, Tony says that, “ We think this may particularly appeal to young members and learning reps, but any interested activists or members are encouraged to express an interest.”

Branches are asked to or call or e-mail sgds@cwu.org by Friday 20th March.

His letter then goes on to give the full details of the Project as follows:

CWU, along with Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) the University and College Union (UCU) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) have been invited to put together a large bid for government funding from Defra’s ‘Greener Living Fund’. The bid is for a new trade union climate change project working with the Climate Action and Outreach Network (COIN), a climate change campaigning charity.

At this stage we are gathering information that will feed into the proposed project ‘Climate Solidarity’ this one of 17 projects that Defra has shortlisted from over 100 applications. Ten projects will receive funding (a total of £6 million is available). No other union projects have been shortlisted.  Defra will decide on the final ten projects in April so we have a very short space of time to build a strong case for being one of the final projects selected.

In order that we can consider making a formal bid through the PET and NEC we need to know what level of potential support or interest may exist.    

Creating a trade union perspective to fighting climate change
Environmental activists across the UK are trying to build action groups but they don’t have our networks and, most importantly, they often lack essential trade union values – social justice, collective action and solidarity.

The actions needed to tackle climate change can also lead to a more equal and just society.

What’s the project all about?

The project we are proposing builds on the TUC’s GreenWorkplaces projects, extending this commitment and ways of working into the community to really kickstart action on cutting emissions - both in workplaces and in the community. We believe it will support the campaign in the union movement for statutory rights for environmental reps.

We also think many members who are not already active in CWU might see this as way of working around climate change within the union as well as bringing new people in.

The project will look in detail at the ways that we contribute to climate change -  such as through our use of energy and transport,  and the things we buy and eat - and work together on practical ways to reduce those impacts whilst improving our lives (for example by reducing costs and stress and improving work-life balance). The specific areas we will be working on are:

transport to and from work
homes - especially insulation and reducing wasted energy in the home
waste – reducing waste and increasing recycling
food - buying seasonal food and supporting local food production
water usage.

These areas are in line with priorities identified by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

How will this work in practice?

We will begin by working in around ten areas of England (the Defra funding is only available in England).  Members who want to get involved will get together either in branches or in action groups formed from all four unions working together in an area. We can then spread these ideas and experience across the trade union movement.

Support, including training, will be available from COIN (Climate Outreach Information Network) and the unions involved in the project.

Please let us know if members in your branch are interested in becoming involved.
At this stage we are looking to prepare a bid to clear through the PET and NEC and need to know the level of potential support so that we can develop the proposal. There is no guarantee, at this stage, that we will receive this funding.

We would also like to know whether any activists in your branch would be interested in attending a discussion group around how we can get members involved in this project.

Contact the SDGS department at CWU headquarters on 020 8971 7238 or sdgs@cwu.org  as soon as possible if you think members from your branch would be interested in getting involved, in attending a discussion meeting or if you need any further information.

Source: CWU



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