The IAM is at the forefront of combating the climate crisis and adapting to the changing landscape of industry and labor. Recognizing the significant impact of global warming on working conditions, community health, and job security, IAM members are actively seeking solutions to mitigate these effects while ensuring the protection of quality union jobs.
Responding to the escalating climate crisis, IAM delegates, at both the 2016 and 2022 conventions, passed resolutions to spearhead initiatives aimed at transitioning IAM-represented industries toward sustainable practices. These industries, which range from aerospace and manufacturing to healthcare and federal services, are among the significant energy consumers and are pivotal to the union’s strategic shift towards environmental stewardship.
At the 2024 IAM Grand Lodge Convention, a groundbreaking discussion was held, featuring a panel of environmental and labor experts who shared insights from a comprehensive study conducted by Cornell University in partnership with the IAM Strategic Resources Department and Communications. The study highlights the urgency of the climate situation and the potential for growth and renewal within the union through strategic engagement with green technologies.
During the panel, speakers Zach Cunningham of the Cornell University Climate Jobs Institute and John Harrity, retired President of the Connecticut State Council and President Emeritus of the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, emphasized the dual challenge and opportunity presented by the climate crisis.
“You have heard some about the dangers of climate, and the incredible opportunities it can also mean in terms of organizing workers in the emerging green technologies,” said Harrity. “This fight on climate change is literally about our collective survival – but it is also about our growth and renewal as a union if we are smart enough to seize the opportunities before us.”
After considering new findings, members passed a resolution to include the concept of “Just Transition.” This concept asserts that workers displaced from jobs by climate change should receive supplemental income, insurance, and pension benefits. It aims to address and correct the inequities faced by people of color who have been systematically excluded from jobs in the energy sector. Additionally, it seeks to support their communities, which have been disproportionately impacted by the presence of highly polluting power plants.
The resolution also includes language to ensure that green technology used in America is made in America and by IAM members. This commitment to ‘Just Transition’ underscores IAM’s dedication to social justice and equality in the face of climate change.
The IAM’s proactive stance on climate change is a testament to its commitment to not only preserving the planet but also securing a prosperous future for its members. By embracing innovative solutions and advocating for sustainable industrial practices, IAM is leading by example in the labor movement’s fight against climate change. This advocacy involves not only implementing green technologies within IAM-represented industries but also influencing and encouraging key players to adopt and advocate sustainable practices.