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Labour from Canada and US attend Western Climate Initiative
May 21, 2008
Discussions about climate change must include concerns of working people
The Western Climate Initiative (WCI) is holding a major stakeholder meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008. Labour representatives from Oregon, California and British Columbia will attend the meeting to ensure the concerns of working people are included in the design of the WCI's greenhouse gas reduction plan.
"Any cap and trade system must take into account, workers in vulnerable industries that will inevitably be affected," said Jim Sinclair, President of British Columbia Federation of Labour. "We need to protect our industries against foreign manufacturers who haven't introduced a cap and trade system and who continue to pollute."
The WCI was formed in February 2007, and its members include the states and provinces of Arizona, British Columbia, California, Manitoba, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Quebec, Utah and Washington. The goal of the WCI is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.
"Reaching mitigation goals will require a broad mindset, including an understanding of labour market dynamics and job training needs. Such an understanding is only possible through partnering with trade unions who have on-the-ground experience," said Tim Rainey of the California Labour Federation.
"Labour unions are learning from the experiences of our counterparts around the world. We know that efforts to deal with global warming present major opportunities to create good, family wage jobs - but only if labour is at the table to insist on wage and benefit standards," said Barbara Byrd, Secretary-Treasurer of the Oregon AFL-CIO.
Unions from other Western states and provinces as well as the Canadian and US national Labour Federations are watching the process and outcomes of the WCI, as well. "We are coming together in unprecedented ways to share information and make sure workers and jobs are part of the discussion," said Al Link, Secretary-Treasurer of the Washington State Labour Council.
CONTACT:
Evan Stewart, B.C. Federation of Labour
(604) 430-1421
Tim Rainey, California Labour Federation, Workforce and Economic Development Program
(510) 915-9945
Al Link, Washington State Labour Council
(206) 281-8901
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