CLIMATE, JOBS, JUSTICE
Edition 6
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SEIU members and worker leaders in the Fight for $15 and a Union are confronted daily by the impacts of climate change and environmental injustice. This newsletter offers a snapshot of how we’re combating climate change and fighting against environmental injustice in our workplaces and communities as well as calling on major industries, corporations, and governments to protect the health, safety and long-term economic well-being of all working people across America.
2022 Climate, Jobs, and Justice Summit
Watch the recording now!
On April 9th, nearly 400 SEIU members from 30 locals across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico gathered to celebrate our work over the past year, and to learn more about the increasingly urgent need to reverse the climate changes that are disproportionately affecting low income communities and communities of color. The summit featured SEIU leadership including VP Rocio Saenz and President Mary Henry, as well as nationally recognized climate change science and environmental justice leaders Dr. Astrid Caldsa and Mustaf Santigao Ali. To view recordings of the summit and summary materials please see below:
Local 503 Member Experience
503 was one of 12 locals involved in planning the Summit. 503 Member leader Lois Yoshishige presented at the summit and shared her thoughts about the event in the local’s recent newsletter. “I was proud to see the work of our SEIU 503 Climate Justice Committee mentioned in the 2-minute video “Celebrating our work over the past year” alongside the wonderful work other locals have done from all over North America. It was inspiring to learn from each other and get ideas on how we can win greater climate justice in our own areas.” To read more about Lois’s experience at the summit visit SEIU 503 In It Together
Earth Week Actions
This year’s Earth Week focused on advancing reconciliation efforts targeted to climate and care. SEIU joined a coalition of more than 20 climate, labor and social justice groups joined a nationwide mobilization to push Congress to pass robust climate legislation before Memorial Day, with events and activities in Seattle, Atlanta, Phoenix, Washington DC, New York City, and elsewhere. One participant summarized their experience, “I am an organizer in the American climate movement. I’ve spent most of the past decade trying to force our political institutions to pass policy commensurate to the scale of the crisis. I try my best to do all the basic things: recycle, no red meat, bike to work. But I don’t believe our path to climate salvation runs through the accumulation of individual consumption choices. Fossil fuel executives invented the term “carbon footprint,” an ingenious means of foisting responsibility onto hapless consumers while they continued pumping billions of tons of carbon into the atmosphere and spending millions of dollars to prevent it being regulated.” For more visit the following links:The Hill, New York Times, and E&E Daily Politico Pro.
Member Spotlight
This month SEIU member Onys Sierra in North Carolina shared her experience with the impacts of Hurricane Mitch with Yale Climate Connections on a story of how the disproportionate impacts of climate-driven extreme events in communities of color and the global south. “The environment, we’re not taking care of it. It’s the most precious, beautiful thing we have and we’re not taking care of it,” she said. “What’s going to happen in 2030? What are my grandchildren going to live through when they grow up?” See the full article at: Why Climate Change Matters To Latinos
Did you know? Extreme Heat
We have seen a global temperature increase of 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) since the 1850’s, around the time of the start of the industrial revolution. This is driven by human-caused increases in greenhouse gas emissions. The last decade was the hottest on record with 2016 and 2020 being the two hottest years until 2021 which is now the hottest year recorded. 2022 is poised to be another record breaking summer. We are already seeing heat waves across the US and the world. Scientists have found that this month's heat wave in India was made 100 times more likely as a result of climate change. Over the coming decades summers are expected to continue to break heat wave records. It is important for both indoor and outdoor workers to know the signs of heat stress. Every year more than 1000 people die as a result of heat related illness with that number projected to increase by 5% by 2030. This includes: Headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, and elevated body temperature, among other symptoms. To learn more about heat stress and heat related illness visit: CDC
Third Environmental Justice Chairs/Members meeting
On February 10th, the SEIU Environmental Justice team organized the second SEIU Environmental Justice chairs and member leaders meeting. The goal of the event was to build relationships, learn about best practices and discuss the work ahead for members involved with climate/environmental issues within their locals. More than 25 members joined the meeting, including those from SEIU locals 1, 503, 2015, 509, 1021, 1199, 32BJ, 1991, 503, 1996 and 721. The next meeting will be in June. These meetings will occur every other month with the aim of creating support for member environmental justice leaders. If you are interested in participating please send an email to: nicole.hernandez-hammer@seiu.org
News from the States
Portland and Denver Green Janitors:
In 2017 SEIU, in partnership with BSP, launched its pilot Green Janitors Program, a 30 hour training USGBC LEED certification program for janitors in Los Angeles. Since then the program has expanded to Northern California leading to over 1,000 janitors receiving the Green Janitor certifications in California. The program includes topics ranging from green building cleaning practices to energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and recycling. This program positions graduates to serve as the eyes and ears of the building in advancing green initiatives in their workplaces and also in maintaining LEED certified buildings. Despite delays as a result of the pandemic, the program continues to grow and expand. This year over 40 janitors in Denver and Portland completed the training, with training now planned for Chicago, Seattle, and Minneapolis.
