Greener workplaces for a just transition A Wales TUC toolkit for trade unionists 1 About this toolkit About us Using this toolkit if you are a freelancer or self-employed The Wales TUC exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We want Wales to In this toolkit we have focussed on how unions can become a Fair Work nation. With 48 member unions organise workplace campaigns and negotiate with and around 400,000 members in Wales, the Wales employers to create more sustainable workplaces. TUC is the voice of Wales at work. But in the case of freelancers and the self-employed, the ‘workplace’ may include several different places We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand of work and instead of a single employer there may up for everyone who works for a living. Join us. be multiple agencies or contractors. About this toolkit Many of the suggestions in this book could be adapted to the circumstances of freelancers and the The aim of this toolkit is to provide information to self-employed but there will also be circumstances help union officers and reps in Wales who want to where the different employment relationship and take action on the climate emergency and negotiate industrial relations background may make this more for greener and fairer workplaces. It is designed to challenging. Reps should speak to their union for support the voice of workers and their unions. advice on the best approach if unsure. It provides information, tools and ideas to help union reps to campaign, organise and raise awareness. It also includes negotiating and bargaining checklists on different areas of workplace sustainability. It aims to ensure that workers, through their unions, have a central voice in the changes that will be needed in every workplace to ensure Wales can achieve a just transition to a greener and fairer Wales. The resources in this booklet are designed to be used on Wales TUC and union training courses, as well as to support action in the workplace and at community level. 2 Contents: Foreword from Wales TUC General Secretary, Lighting and electrical equipment 148 Shavanah Taj 6 Renewable energy 150 Supporting nature and green spaces 158 Section 1: Background and context 8 Offsetting 164 Introduction 9 Section 4: Tools and resources 168 Build back better 10 Understanding the climate and nature crisis 12 Example survey 169 Climate change 12 Checklists 174 Nature loss 16 A joint model environment agreement 176 International action to address the Climate emergency declaration checklist 182 climate and nature crisis 18 Model ‘green new deal’/ UK level action 20 transition planning letter 183 The challenge for Wales 22 Green/environment rep appointment form 184 What is a ‘just transition’ and why is Sources of further information 186 it a trade union issue? 26 Glossary of terms 188 The case for action – health, social and equality impacts 28 Endnotes 194 What could a just transition to a net-zero Wales look like? 32 Acknowledgements 201 Wales’ environmental legislation and policy framework 36 What skills will workers need for a net-zero, zero waste Wales? 42 Section 2: What can unions do? 46 The role of the ‘green’ or environmental rep 47 Mapping workplace environmental issues 56 Environmental management systems, labelling and accreditation 62 Negotiating on environmental issues 66 ‘Climate-proofing’ workplace policies 68 Developing transition agreements 70 Awareness raising 74 Section 3: Workplace issues 78 Work-related travel 79 Resource efficiency – reduce, reuse, recycle 92 Homeworking 106 Procurement and supply chain 118 Finance and investment 126 Water 136 Heating, cooling, ventilation and insulation 144 3 How to use this toolkit This toolkit is split into four sections. To help you find the information you need more quickly and understand what sections of the toolkit might be most useful for you, this page explains the purpose of the different sections. Section one: Background and context Section two: What can unions do? This section explores why the climate and nature This section considers action that unions can take crisis is an issue for trade unionists. It considers at a workplace level. It gives practical information the causes and consequences of the crisis, the to support unions in developing strategies for laws and policies that are already in place to try to negotiating with employers to secure both tackle it and what further action is needed. Find improvements for the environment and a fair out why unions are calling for a ‘just transition’ and deal for workers. Find out more about the role of why a fair and fast shift to a net-zero economy is trade union green reps as part of a whole branch vital for workers in Wales and beyond. approach. Learn how to effectively map and monitor environmental issues in the workplace. Understand different approaches to bargaining and negotiating for a just transition and engaging members for effective workplace campaigns. It includes bargaining checklists and case studies. 4 Section three: Workplace issues Hyperlinks and endnotes This contains detailed background information This toolkit has been designed primarily as a digital and guidance on specific issues relevant resource, and you’ll find hyperlinks throughout the to workplace sustainability. For example, it text which you can click on view further information covers work-related travel, resource efficiency, or sources that are referenced. If you’re using a procurement, energy use and many more topics. printed copy, you can find the links printed out in full It is aimed at green reps and other workplace in the endnotes. reps who are looking to secure improvements in a particular area. Find bargaining checklists, action Glossary plans, case studies and other useful information to help you plan successful workplace sustainability We’ve tried to avoid unnecessary jargon but we’ve campaigns which benefit the environment and also included glossary of some of the more technical members. terms for ease of reference. ➔ Bargaining checklists It’s not just for green reps… As well supporting the role of green reps, this toolkit also been designed for use by other trade union reps such as branch officials, health and safety reps and union learning reps. Here are some suggestions of some bits of the toolkit that might be of particular relevance to reps in other roles: Union officers, branch officials and reps: ➔ Mapping workplace environmental issues 56 ➔ Negotiating on environmental issues 66 ➔ Climate-proofing’ workplace policies 68 ➔ Developing transition agreements 70 ➔ The role of the ‘green’ or environmental rep 47 ➔ Action plans Health and safety reps ➔ The case for action – health, social and equality impacts 28 ➔ Air pollution 29 ➔ Cross over with the health and safety agenda 53 ULRs ➔ What skills will workers need for a net-zero, zero waste Wales? 42 ➔ Green skills and the ULR role 53 ➔ Climate proofing on jobs and skills 69 ➔ Awareness raising 74 Case studies – quick links: ➔ Climate emergency campaign– UCU, Cardiff University 54 Section four: Tools and resources ➔ Climate proofing - Prospect, IPO 67 ➔ Active travel – UCU, Cardiff University Find examples of surveys, checklists, agreements, and PCS, Welsh Government 88 forms, letters and other resources that you can ➔ Action on plastics, UNISON, adapt for your workplace to help you to support Swansea Council 103 and develop your campaign. This section also ➔ Hospital orchard, UNISON, includes a glossary of terms and further sources of Cardiff and Vale UHB 162 information. ➔ ‘Energy guardians’ brewery case study, Unite the Union 142 5 Foreword The climate emergency is a trade union issue. Now extreme weather on more than ever, workers, just like employers, want a our communities and sense of security. But the climate and nature crisis workplaces. Climate and means a more uncertain future for us all. nature breakdown will increase threats such as extreme weather Trade unions have called and new viruses. And harmful air pollution from for urgent action to build emissions is already a public and occupational a greener, fairer and health emergency. more equitable economy Climate change exposes the existing inequalities in society, both at home and abroad. There are that protects jobs, our important social justice reasons why trade unions are campaigning and bargaining on this agenda. health and the planet. The trade union movement in Wales is organising and mobilising to protect our planet for future Working people and communities are on the front generations. And we stand up for those workers lines of climate change. In Wales, as elsewhere, whose jobs are at real risk and younger workers we’ve already started to see the impact of seeking to enter the jobs market. 6 Trade unions remain the best way to ensure that There is also much that we can do at a workplace workers’ interests are protected through any period level. Across Wales, union reps are already working of industrial change. This has been seen clearly with their members to make workplaces more throughout the pandemic. sustainable. They are finding ways to cut carbon and reduce waste, campaigning for cleaner air and With proper planning and targeted funding, tackling creating green spaces to support nature and well- climate change will not mean fewer jobs but could being. This guide shares some examples of this actually increase the number of good quality jobs - important and often unsung work. And it aims to both direct but also across a range of local supply support reps in the ongoing challenge of creating chains. There is an enormous amount of work to be greener workplaces. done in restoring nature, building renewable energy, low carbon homes and transport. But we must take action now to make the recovery and transition to a net-zero economy a genuine and just one.