TUC urges greener workplaces

Unions and employers should join together to promote more environmentally friendly workplaces according to the TUC.

Its new report Greening the workplace says that unions have a real opportunity to help make a difference on climate change.

Environment Minister Elliot Morley welcomed the drive, saying: “Unions have influence at local, national and international level, and members have the ability to make sure in their own homes as well as their workplaces that there is better use of energy and resources, influencing employers’ decisions on everything from transport to production processes to make what they do cleaner, safer, less polluting, and less wasteful.”

Today’s report gives a number of examples where unions have contributed to greener policies. At the Scottish Agricultural College, Prospect members persuaded their employers to investigate energy saving ideas, resulting in a three per cent cut in electricity usage – saving £12,000 a year.