Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TBF

(31,922 posts)
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 11:56 AM Jun 2014

Rank-and-File Environmentalism

Rank-and-File Environmentalism
6.11.14 - by Trish Kahle (Jacobin)

Labor is often considered hopelessly reactionary on the environment. But democratic unions can fight for both jobs and the planet.



The “jobs versus environment” debate is often seen as a fundamental division between labor and environmentalists, most recently emerging in the fight over the Keystone XL pipeline. Despite dire warnings from scientists about its potentially disastrous environmental impact, the pipeline was endorsed by the AFL-CIO, which justified its decision by citing “job creation.” Estimates range from 5,000-9,000 temporary positions — a drop in the bucket compared to the more than 794,000 unemployed construction workers in the US — and a mere 35 permanent jobs.

Is there any kind of environmental degradation, environmental activists might wonder, unions won’t endorse to secure a small handful of construction jobs?

Jeremy Brecher is right to point in a recent piece to the need for the labor and environmental movements to “evolve toward a common program and a common vision.” To do so, we’ll need to break down the false “jobs versus environment” dichotomy created by capital to obscure the fact that the exploitation of workers and the degradation of the environment go hand in hand ...

More here: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/06/rank-and-file-environmentalism/

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

TexasTowelie

(111,312 posts)
2. Our corporate masters do everything within their power to create conflict and divide us.
Wed Jun 11, 2014, 11:26 PM
Jun 2014

Thanks for posting.

socialist_n_TN

(11,481 posts)
3. TBF when you get a chance, cross-post this in the Labor Movement forum.......
Thu Jun 12, 2014, 08:45 AM
Jun 2014

It might be interesting to get some reaction there.

 

Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)
4. In the BlueGreen Alliance, labor unions and environmental organizations work together.
Thu Jun 12, 2014, 09:21 AM
Jun 2014

The BlueGreen Alliance (homepage here) includes most of the major unions and the major environmental organizations. The whole "jobs versus the environment" thing is indeed a scam.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Socialist Progressives»Rank-and-File Environment...