1946. Trade Unions for Energy Democracy

By Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, July 25, 2015

Marching in India for to stop global warming and catastrophic climate change and for energy justice 

Editor's note: Trade Unions for Energy Democracy is an important recent initiative currently by 46 unions and other organizations from 17 countries that combines a commitment to trade unionism with the fight for climate justice that ensures governments commitment to measures required to stop global warming and to ensure energy justice in the Global South. Below you find their mission statement. KN

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Mission Statement

Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) is a global, multi-sector initiative to advance democratic direction and control of energy in a way that promotes solutions to the climate crisis, energy poverty, the degradation of both land and people, and responds to the attacks on workers’ rights and protections.

We are facing an energy and climate emergency that amounts to a planetary crisis. The growing levels of fossil based energy is stretching planetary limits by raising greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution to alarming levels.  This is affecting the health and quality of life of millions.

The power of fossil fuel corporations has made it practically impossible to protect the health and safety of workers and communities, and union representation is under attack across the globe. Despite more energy being generated every year, energy poverty remains a serious global issue — 1.6 billion people, or 20% of the world’s population, do not have regular access to electricity.

It has become increasingly clear that the transition to an equitable, sustainable energy system can only occur if there is decisive shift in power towards workers, communities and the public. The goals of the project are:

Help build and strengthen a global trade union community for energy democracy. TUED is a platform for trade unions from all sectors and countries to debate, develop and promote real solutions to the climate crisis, land grabs, energy poverty, and pollution generated by fossil fuels — solutions that can build unions, worker and community power, and advance social and environmental justice.

Develop high-impact union educational materials, distribute an electronic bulletin, and convene meetings and working retreats that encourage debate and help create a shared analysis of key energy and climate issues.

Connect the energy democracy agenda to union struggles and campaigns in ways that build broad membership engagement, increases worker power, and facilitates solidarity across movements that share similar goals.