This summer we have seen huge increases in the price of essential goods, deadly heatwaves and widespread industrial action. With a government that has turned its back on the urgent needs of its citizens, we have to confront these multiple crises and agitate for social, economic and environmental justice.

All are welcome to join us at this series of online events aiming to make stronger links between the struggles we face as trade unionists, climate activists and everyone campaigning for social justice.

Saturday 8th October - Part 3: Solidarity in the face of crisis

A full day event to explore in more depth some key issues facing climate, trade union and social justice activists:

10.00-11.10: Welcome and opening session: Multiple crises, one fight: joining the dots

In this session we'll look at the crises facing the UK in their global context. Who pays the price for climate breakdown and financial crisis? Following catastrophic floods in Pakistan, the UK government plans North Sea oil expansion. Energy companies profit from households facing unaffordable heating bills, while at COP27 in Egypt in November, rich nations face off Global South demands for financial recompense for loss and damage. Our struggles are connected - let’s join the dots.

Speakers include Asad Rehman, War on Want, Tooba Syed, Women Democratic Front Pakistan;  Ruth London, Fuel Poverty Action; Jay Read, Stop Cambo, Tony Bouch, CWU

11.15-12.45: Workshops (parallel)

1: Cost of living, energy, public ownership: making the links. 

Decisions about energy - what, where from, who owns it, and how much we need - once seemed abstract and remote. It’s now clear that the government opting for more fossil fuels, instead of renewable energy and home insulation, is hitting households hard. Disabled people and those on low incomes face a winter of extreme hardship. We’ll discuss what is needed: urgent action and long-term solutions.

With Emma Hewitt, Disabled People Against Cuts; Francis Stuart, Scottish Trades Union Congress; Chris Herring, AECB & Insulate Britain; Ellen Robottom, CACCTU

2: From high carbon sectors to climate jobs: making it real

Around the country, there are urgent campaigns against fossil fuel extraction, burning trees for fuel, and expansion of high carbon infrastructure like aviation. But for workers in high carbon industries, the promise of ‘climate jobs’ or ‘just transition’ can seem only slogans. How can activists turn these promises into a real alternative, make links with workers and find unified demands across campaigns?

With Pete Cannell, Scot E3; Dr Jo Cutter; Stuart Boothman, Just Transition Wakefield; Katy Brown, Stop Burning Trees Coalition

12.45-13.30: Lunch break

13.30-15.00: Workshops (parallel)

3: Winning urgent climate arguments in trade unions

In many unions, support in principle for climate action is often contradicted by a push for high-carbon developments. And across the trade union movement, there are debates about which energy technologies are really ‘false solutions’. How can ordinary trade union members work to resolve these contradictions, so unions make choices for our future and for climate and social justice today?

With Sam Mason, PCS; Mel Mullings, RMT; Pablo John, GMB for a GND; Suzanne Jeffery, CACCTU/NEU

4: Building local alliances and getting local councils to act

Whether it’s campaigning for better public transport and well insulated housing or against new roads, waste incineration or fracking, vital battles can be won and lost on a local level, as well as building strength for national campaigns. What works, and how do we bring communities together, learning from people’s lived experiences?

With Simon Pirani, Stop the Silvertown Tunnel; Tina Rothery, fracking campaigner, George Arthur, Better Buses South Yorkshire, Sydney Charles, Edmonton incineratoe campaign

15.05-16.00: Planning for action

Bringing the day together - what have we learnt and what next?

Speakers include  Mel Mullings, RMT; Phoebe Hayman, Just Stop Oil; Suzanne Jeffery, CACCTU; Tina Rothery; fracking campaigner and more.

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Past events

Sat 17th September 10-11.30am: Part 1 - Joining the dots: a session to discuss how our struggles link together, and what we need right now and for the longer term. Speakers include Sam Mason, Climate Justice Coalition trade union caucus; Ruth London, Fuel Poverty Action, Ellen Robottom CACCTU; Paul Atkin, NEU climate network, Dr Mahvish Ahmad, Women Democratic Front, Pakistan.

Watch the video from this event

Sun 18th September 10-11.30am: Part 2 - Strategising to win: discussing practical actions connecting different issues to build broader, deeper and more effective movements. Speakers include Laura Dickinson, Enough is Enough; Tina Rothery, anti-fracking Nana; Tahir Latif, CACCTU, Gabriel Davalos, Stop Cambo.

Video from the event (first part only, second part to be uploaded shortly)