Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces

Killer heat: US racial injustices will worsen as climate crisis escalates Exclusive: new research shows how black and brown neighbourhoods will be hit hardest by global heating

Webinar to examine environmental racism, COVID-19 and the labour movement – YFile Webinar to examine environmental racism, COVID-19 and the labour movement July 12, 2020 A group of York academics and labour unions have produced a webinar and are inviting activists to take action against environmental racism. The free event, titled “What can Unions do to stop Environmental Racis...

What Can Unions Do to Stop Environmental Racism?

ACW, CBTU, and ACLA are hosting a webinar and inviting union and community activists to take action against environmental racism.

In this moment of tremendous social change unions are asking themselves: how best can we act to stop racism in all its forms and ensure that the transition to a “new normal” does not reproduce the inequities of the old normal.

What are we seeing in this moment?

COVID-19 has exposed the deep economic and environmental inequalities experienced by Racialized and Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Racialized and Indigenous communities are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, suffering from higher rates of exposure, transmission, and deaths. This is due, in part, to the environmental conditions that our communities live and work within. Racialized and Indigenous workers on the front lines have faced layoffs, job losses, or been deemed essential but not provided adequate protection.

We continue to witness a rise in anti-asian racism and police brutality which has produced an unprecedented global protest movement led by Black and Indigenous and Racialized communities.

What is Environmental Racism?:

The concept of Environmental Racism has been around for the last 40 years; however, examples of Environmental Racism date back centuries. The term originally coined by Dr. Benjamin Chavez in 1981 referred to weak environmental protections in racialized and indigenous communities. Since the original conception the term has expanded to include “toxins in the workplace, climate migration (climigration), gentrification, and the absence of basic necessities like food and water; all of which unequally impact Indigenous and racialized people.” (https://ourtimes.ca/article/green-is-not-white)

Across the world greenhouse gas emissions have reduced as a result of economic contraction. However, these temporarily lower emissions mask the deep racial inequalities that have been exposed through the pandemic.

Who we are:
Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces to Respond to Climate Change (ACW) seeks to look at how can Canadian work, workers and workplaces can help slow global warming and now works with six countries. This is a 11-year research and action project led by labour unions, the Canadian Labour Congress, labour federations, labour councils, and universities, who have united to work to slow global warming.
ACW recognizes the disproportionate impact of climate change on Racialized and Indigenous communities globally. In this moment of global climate threat and social upheaval ACW will not be silent and calls upon our partner organizations to take action.
(https://adaptingcanadianwork.ca)

The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), has actively given voice to Black workers within the labour movement and community for over 50 years in the United States and 20 years in Canada (www.cbtu.ca). CBTU has launched the “green is Not White” environmental racism project and taken a strong stand in support of the call to defund the police. (http://cbtu.ca/2020/06/defunding-the-police/)

The Asian Canadian Labour Alliance (ACLA) is a grassroots collective of community and labour activists established in 2000 to give voice to pan-Asian trade union and community activists, Asian-Canadian workers, and the Asian-Canadian community at large. (http://aclaontario.ca/)

NEW ACW REPORT: Heating Up, Backing Down: Evaluating recent climate policy progress in Canada by Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood; co-published with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Heating Up, Backing Down: Evaluating recent climate policy progress in Canada - Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces to Respond to Climate Change[:fr]Adapting Canadian Work[ Canadian governments have been unwilling to introduce supply-side energy policies designed to restrict the production of fossil fuels.

Steelworkers Union Tackles Climate Change in Workshop Guide

Steelworkers Union Tackles Climate Change in Workshop Guide - Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces to Respond to Climate Change[:fr]Adapting Canadian Work[ Workshop educates about the impact of climate change on jobs, and better prepares workers to ensure government policies create a just transition

On August 27, 2018, the broadest range of Canadian groups involved in Just Transition were invited to a daylong roundtable in Ottawa. Read the summary report "Just Transition and Beyond Just Transition: Canada in Action"

Just Transition and Beyond Just Transition: Canada in Action - Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces to Respond to Climate Change[:fr]Adapting Canadian Work[ Roundtable Summary Report. Six groups active in the field invited the broadest range of Canadian groups involved in Just Transition to a daylong roundtable on August 27, 2018, in Ottawa.

Deep Cleavages Amongst US Labour Unions with Respect to Climate Change, Finds Report

Deep Cleavages Amongst US Labour Unions with Respect to Climate Change, Finds Report - Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces to Respond to Climate Change This report outlines the deep cleavages with respect to climate policy but also argues that the views of unions are more complex and contradictory than the opposition-support dichotomy.

In recognition of day, CBTU Ontario, Canada is launching the 7th video in our video series on Environmental Racism with a profile of Shannon Holness speaking out against forced family relocations in Jane-Finch along with her work with the Toronto Community Benefits Network

Environmental Racism: Shannon Holness Speaking Out Against Forced Family Relocations in Jane-Finch - Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces to Respond to Climate Change CBTU video with a profile of Shannon Holness describing her work with the Toronto Community Benefits Network

ILO Briefing Highlights Work of ACW and Union Partnerships in Time for COP24 - Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces to Respond to Climate Change It addresses the main challenges affecting how just transition can work in practice and what trade unions and workers’ organizations can do.

"Climate Stability and Worker Stability: Are they Compatible?" Asks New Report - Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces to Respond to Climate Change This new study seeks to better understand the training needs associated with renewable energy and energy efficiency job projections.

Toronto! Join us this Friday for the launch of Bruce Campbell's book, The Lac-Mégantic Rail Disaster: Public Betrayal, Justice Denied.

This event is free but RSVPs are appreciated!
https://lacmeganticbook.eventbrite.ca/

The Lac-Mégantic Rail Disaster: Public Betrayal, Justice Denied with author Bruce Campbell. Join us for a special book launch event on Friday Nov. 9th at the Centre for Social Innovation – Annex in Toronto, 5PM - 7PM. Admission is FREE.

Book Launch: The Lac-Mégantic Rail Disaster: Public Betrayal, Justice Denied - Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces to Respond to Climate Change Friday, November 9th 2018, 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Refreshments and no-host bar The Garage, Centre for Social Innovation - CSI Annex 720 Bathurst St.