The debate on Australia pricing carbon pollution rages – in Parliament and in the media.

Unions have a responsibility to get involved to protect our members’ best interests. The CFMEU respects blue collar workers concerns about their jobs and the rising costs of living. That’s why the union’s bottom line is: that jobs must be protected and low and middle income earners must be permanently compensated in any pollution pricing plan.

The CFMEU insists that compensation to business must go to protecting jobs in vulnerable industries, not to increasing the profits of greedy bosses.

The Union also demands that real new jobs are created in ‘green’ industries – Australian workers should be designing and manufacturing wind mills or solar energy panels, for example, as well as constructing and maintaining wind or solar energy farms.

Pricing Pollution inevitable

Much of the argument from big business now is grandstanding, to shore up a bigger slice of the compensation cake when the government introduces pollution pricing.

Because, make no mistake, if this government put it off, a future Australian government – even a Tony Abbott led Liberal Government – will eventually introduce some form of penalty to force the biggest polluters to curb emissions and protect the environment.

Tony Abbott’s dishonest posturing on job security – including his call for an $80 million taxpayer funded plebiscite that he would ignore if he didn’t like the results – is pollie pandering to what he thinks will secure more votes for him in the polls. Abbott has never proved trustworthy with workers’ rights in the past; there is no reason to trust his bid for power now.

Smart operators already reducing emissions

The CFMEU is no head-in-the-sand dinosaur on climate change. The Mining Division of this Union has engaged with the debate since the 1990s. We accept what 97% of reputable scientists are telling us: that human activity is contributing to global warming with dangerous effects on our environment. Australian workers don’t shirk challenges; in fact, history shows us without the working class taking a lead on climate change, nothing effective will happen.

Big business knows we have got to start acting now too. Look where they are putting their money. Virtually every new commercial building is already either 5 or 6 Star energy rated. Australian companies are demanding energy efficient buildings because they know a more energy efficient economy is going to cost us less in the long run.

Putting a price on carbon is one way of driving industry to become more efficient so it produces less carbon. Without it, there is no incentive for big polluters to spend the money on new technologies to achieve those goals.

In construction, ‘greening’ of our buildings has not caused the industry to collapse. On the contrary, designers have come up with solutions, manufacturers are already producing the products and workers are being trained to make construction ‘cleaner’ and the buildings healthier for those using them – check out our website Action for Climate Change Campaign page for examples.

Retrofitting of existing buildings is the next step and another source of jobs for CFMEU members.

Knowledge is power

The CFMEU encourages members to get involved, get informed and make your voices heard in this debate. The Union has produced an introductory flyer for members on the issues which is available from Branches or can be downloaded from this website.

Check out of Action for Climate Change Campaign page for more information on projects and links to information from the ACTU or other unions.  Follow the debate through our In the Press links. Tell us your views through comments or queries@fed.cfmeu.asn.au

Dealing with Climate Change is a bread and butter issue for all Australians. By acting together we can ensure a better future for our industry and our kids.

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