Over the past few weeks, trade unions in Lancashire and North Yorkshire have joined protests against fracking.

On the 4th of November, protesters marched to the Kirby Misperton fracking site.

They were led by drummers from the Public Commercial Services Union samba band. Also present were representatives from the Fire Brigades Union, Unite, Unite Community, all in solidarity with the Water Protectors. For weeks now, Third Energy has continued preparations for test fracking at the KM8 well near the town, despite protests from locals and anti-fracking groups such as Frack Free Lancashire.

The following motion has just been passed by TUC Congress.

Thanks to the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union who moved the motion and CWU, FBU, ASLEF and TSSA who submittted amendments.

Congress notes the irrefutable evidence that dangerous climate change is driving unprecedented changes to our environment such as the devastating flooding witnessed in the UK in 2004.

We are deeply saddened at the death of our friend and great climate campaigner and socialist, Ken Montague, who passed away last Friday. 

Below are tributes from Suzanne Jeffery and Jonathan Neale.

Ken was secretary of the Campaign against Climate Change trade union group and a member of CACC steering group for many years. During that time Ken played an invaluable role in developing the work of the trade union group and especially the One Million Climate jobs report and campaign. 

Ken's work was unseen and often unsung but without it much of what the CACC trade union group have done in the last few years would not have happened. Ken's work allowed the trade union group to campaign increasingly effectively within the wider trade union movement, to develop a deeper understanding of the climate crisis, its relevance to the struggle of working people and to counter the false narrative that jobs and the environment are mutually exclusive.