Start a Climate Action Committee

  1. Contact your Local/State President to see if a committee exists and tell them about your interest.
    1. Normally, the Local Constitution states the Local President appoints all committees.  If you know of other employees who are interested, let your President know.  There may be an APWU Representative assigned to the USPS Safety Committee but there is no reason why we couldn’t start up an APWU Climate Justice Committee and all work together.  Kinds of Committees
      1. APWU Local Union Climate Justice Committee
      2. APWU Local Union Safety and Health Committee (add Climate Justice)
      3. USPS Safety and Health Committee (a contractual requirement)
  2. If one exists you could volunteer to become a member if there is an opening                   
  3.  Once you are on a committee you can start working on making a difference 
  4. If there are no active committees you can request help to get started.  This can help you begin setting goals and actions.      

 

Organizing a Labor Climate Action Committee

Think about helping to organize a Union Workplace Climate Action Committee go through your Local Union President to see if they are willing to support it, if not look for community Climate Action Coalition to get involved in.  Keep your Local President in the loop of actions and tools that can assist in getting union members involved in climate actions at work and attend union meetings to update members of your climate activities and actions, speak up at safety talks at work.  You can play a part in this movement.

Start Where You Are as an Individual

  • Approach those you think may already be concerned, even two workers can make a difference
  • Invite other workers to participate in informal and formal discussions.
  • Ask your local union president to join in the process.
  • Then ask your union president to establish a committee, or other process for working on climate justice  in conjunction with Safety & Health Committees and working within our Crafts

Start With Small Actions

  • Organize educational programs like a film or speaker series.
  • Pass a climate, just transition resolution.
  • Hold a meeting on labor and climate with other unions, AFL-CIO and climate groups.
  • Endorse and participate in a march, rally, or other public action in your community.
  • Find a climate project that can improve your workplace environment and plan a strategy
  • Know and build a relationship with your political leaders in your community and state

Helpful Resources