Green Jobs and Global Green Jobs and Global Warming LegislationWarming Legislation

January 2009January 2009

Blue Green AllianceBlue Green Alliance What is the Blue Green Alliance?What is the Blue Green Alliance?

Started in 2006Started in 2006 Original alliance between the United Steelworkers Original alliance between the United Steelworkers

(USW) and the Sierra Club(USW) and the Sierra Club Partnership has expanded: Partnership has expanded:

• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)• Communications Workers of America (CWA)Communications Workers of America (CWA)• Service Employees International Union (SEIU)Service Employees International Union (SEIU)• Laborers International Union of North AmericaLaborers International Union of North America

Sierra Club has organizer’s running field programs Sierra Club has organizer’s running field programs in four states:in four states:• Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and WisconsinMinnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin

Supporters in OhioSupporters in Ohio Each state has a slightly different coalitionEach state has a slightly different coalition Other partners in Ohio have included:Other partners in Ohio have included:

Large number of environmental groupsLarge number of environmental groups Ohio AFL-CIOOhio AFL-CIO Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC)Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) Ohio Farmers UnionOhio Farmers Union Ohio Academy of Trial LawyersOhio Academy of Trial Lawyers Policy Matters OhioPolicy Matters Ohio Cuyhoga Community CollegeCuyhoga Community College Apollo AllianceApollo Alliance WellstoneWellstone America VotesAmerica Votes International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

This will be expanding in 2009.This will be expanding in 2009.

Goals OverviewGoals Overview

In 2009 the BGA will focus on several policy In 2009 the BGA will focus on several policy areas:areas: ““Green Chemistry” Green Chemistry” Trade reformTrade reform Workers’ rightsWorkers’ rights Green JobsGreen Jobs Global Warming solutionsGlobal Warming solutions

Green ChemistryGreen Chemistry

What has happened?What has happened? Toxic Toys House PartiesToxic Toys House Parties Various purposesVarious purposes

• Health effectsHealth effects• Labor and Trade issuesLabor and Trade issues• Organizing skillsOrganizing skills• Testing toysTesting toys

Goals for the future:Goals for the future: House PartiesHouse Parties

• Take it to a new constituencies (labor, families, PTA Take it to a new constituencies (labor, families, PTA members)members)

Trade ReformTrade Reform

What has been happening?What has been happening? Ohio Conference on Fair TradeOhio Conference on Fair Trade

• Currently working on compiling a letter to the new Currently working on compiling a letter to the new congress congress

House PartiesHouse Parties Goal for the future:Goal for the future:

Foster support among identified decision makersFoster support among identified decision makers Trade agreement will uphold labor and Trade agreement will uphold labor and

environmental standardsenvironmental standards Trade reforms will be a building block of Trade reforms will be a building block of

international climate change agreementsinternational climate change agreements

Workers’ Rights to OrganizeWorkers’ Rights to Organize What has been done?What has been done?

Employee Free Choice ActEmployee Free Choice Act• Number one priority for Labor in 2009 (???)Number one priority for Labor in 2009 (???)

Goals for the FutureGoals for the Future Employee Free Choice ActEmployee Free Choice Act Engage and educate environmental groups and Engage and educate environmental groups and

allied organizations on ensuring workers rightsallied organizations on ensuring workers rights

Green JobsGreen Jobs What has been done:What has been done:

Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference 2008Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference 2008• Pittsburg, OHPittsburg, OH• 1,000 attendees1,000 attendees

Green Jobs Rally (September 2008)Green Jobs Rally (September 2008)• Governor Strickland spoke and signed the Ohio Good Green Jobs Governor Strickland spoke and signed the Ohio Good Green Jobs

PledgePledge Jobs Training Program in CincinnatiJobs Training Program in Cincinnati Economic Development Study in CincinnatiEconomic Development Study in Cincinnati

Goals for the FutureGoals for the Future Working with the Ohio Department of DevelopmentWorking with the Ohio Department of Development Good Jobs Green Job Conference 2009Good Jobs Green Job Conference 2009 Continuing work on the Economic Development StudyContinuing work on the Economic Development Study Working with Sherrod Brown’s Office on a series of events Working with Sherrod Brown’s Office on a series of events

throughout the statethroughout the state

C-Campaign and other Global C-Campaign and other Global Warming Legislation WorkWarming Legislation Work

C-campaign/global warming coalitionC-campaign/global warming coalition PartnersPartners

• Environment OhioEnvironment Ohio• PEGPEG• AudobonAudobon• Ohio League of Conservation Voters (OLCV)Ohio League of Conservation Voters (OLCV)• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)• Izaac Walton LeagueIzaac Walton League• Natural Wildlife FederationNatural Wildlife Federation• Sierra ClubSierra Club

C-campaign GoalC-campaign Goal

Increase support for strong global warming Increase support for strong global warming legislation legislation (cap and trade and clean energy)(cap and trade and clean energy)

TargetsTargets TIER ONE: work withTIER ONE: work with

• Senator Sherrod BrownSenator Sherrod Brown• Congresspersons Betty Sutton, Marcy Kaptur, Charlie Congresspersons Betty Sutton, Marcy Kaptur, Charlie

Wilson, Zac Space, Tim, Ryan, John Boccieri, Mary Jo Wilson, Zac Space, Tim, Ryan, John Boccieri, Mary Jo Kilroy, Dreihaus, and Marcia FudgeKilroy, Dreihaus, and Marcia Fudge

TIER TWO: hold accountableTIER TWO: hold accountable• LaTourette, VoinovichLaTourette, Voinovich

Major Goals: RecapMajor Goals: Recap

Blue Green AllianceBlue Green Alliance Rebuild and strengthen existing relationships with Rebuild and strengthen existing relationships with

coalition partners, as well as include new partners coalition partners, as well as include new partners (ie- SEIU, CWA)(ie- SEIU, CWA)

Help build support for good green jobs to jumpstart Help build support for good green jobs to jumpstart economic recovery and stop global warming.economic recovery and stop global warming.

Engage and educate others in a workers’ right to Engage and educate others in a workers’ right to organizeorganize

Foster support around fair tradeFoster support around fair trade C-campaignC-campaign

How you can helpHow you can help

Attend the Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference in DCAttend the Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference in DC Sign up at Sign up at http://http://www.greenjobsconference.orgwww.greenjobsconference.org// CarpoolingCarpooling

• Available in OHAvailable in OH• If interested email If interested email mackenzie.bailey@sierraclub.orgmackenzie.bailey@sierraclub.org• Indicated whether or not you are willing to drive.Indicated whether or not you are willing to drive.

Funds may be available. Email Enid for more information.Funds may be available. Email Enid for more information.

Participate in a meeting with a new member of Participate in a meeting with a new member of congress.congress.

Participate in a Statewide Steering Committee for the Participate in a Statewide Steering Committee for the Blue Green Alliance.Blue Green Alliance.