Climate Change Shifting Union Policy Taking the Climate Change debate to Members and Industry

Overview Challenges facing mining What has union done? Communications objectives Bring miners and power workers with union - guard against scare campaigns Articulate independent voice for workers Building credibility - internal and external markets What works in our demographic? Conclusions

Challenges facing CFMEU We’re killing the planet!...discuss options Industry image already poor Workers out of sight, out of mind Fertile ground for skepticism

What has the Union done? represented ACTU various tripartite working groups 1992 Union at Rio conference 1997 Union at Kyoto - support for Kyoto 2001 wrote ICEM CC policy 2007 led ITUC delegation in Bali million workers 2008 Chair ACTU Environment Group 2008 Poznan 2009 Copenhagen

More evidence of Climate change Gore, Stern & IPCC New mines become controversial Miners demonised explosion of public awareness

Ratify Kyoto Emissions trading Increased MRET Investment in low emission coal power Demand mgt programs Action in transport, agriculture etc Shareholder activity $100K Huge member support 2006 CFMEU Policy

Lobby ALP to adopt policy Shareholder campaign $1M ad campaign to protect against scare campaign Build relations with enviro groups - Al Gore training Ensure member support UNFCCC involvement 2007 Climate Change Campaign

Post 2007 Member Survey  Climate Change  93% support union taking position  Most want environment and jobs  Half felt victimised by anti coal groups  73% saw union TV ads  Half discussed TV ads at work  83% supported TV ads

2008 Alliances CCS Alliance - accelerate CCS technology Aust Coal Assoc World Wildlife Fund The Climate Institute CFMEU Southern Cross Climate Coalition - social justice, green jobs and renewables Aust Conservation Foundation The Climate Institute Aust Council of Social Services ACTU

The Energy Debate such as it is  “Mine’s better than yours!”  “CCS/geothermal/solar thermal/tidal power will never work!”  “Uranium is the only answer”  “Renewables can’t deliver baseload”  There is a similar debate about different forms of sequestration  The truth is we need them all

Manufacturing conundrum By 2050, world will use more aluminium, steel, cement, timber products, plastics and chemicals - not less - and more transport and energy when all countries have a carbon price, the location of industry is unaffected – until then carbon leakage/job loss can occur unions support range of measures to get through next decade while global deal implemented ETS amendments industry /tax policy/border adjustments - competitiveness sectoral agreements world has to have more products, commodities, energy and transport with less emissions

Communication challenges for unions Garnaut Green paper EITE Generators Sectors Environment Groups 1. It’s all so bloody complex 2. Maintaining independence 3. Scare campaigns

Stuff that works  Independence!!  Involvement at early stages critical  Mandates essential  Personally front meetings  Stay ahead of game - no surprises

the message that works  Technology and investment created the old economy  Technology and investment will drive the new economy  New industries will be sponsored for rapid growth  Most existing industries will be modified  Many of the new jobs are the old jobs  Genuinely new jobs must be decent jobs

 Unions have been active on climate change for a long time  Engagement with environment groups,business and unions is critical for government  Our message has been that all industries should take responsibility and we need all technologies  Debate should be about how we grow, not whether we grow  Polling consistently shows vast support for this position  Community acceptance possible if properly led by government and stakeholders - should be bipartisan  Unions have a key role in generating community acceptance Conclusion