Public Employee Press

Join march for climate action September 21 at United Nations

DC 37 activists will march in a huge demonstration on climate change Sept. 21 at the United Nations.

Organizers hope to draw 500,000 demonstrators for the "Peoples Climate March," which will focus on September's U.N. summit meeting on global warming.

"Unions really need to be involved in environmental issues," said Jon Forster, who represents Civil Service Technical Guild Local 375 on the DC 37 Executive Board. In May the board voted unanimously for Forster's proposal that the union participate in the march.

"Thousands and thousands of jobs are at stake as our country addresses the problem of global warming," said Forster. "Unions need to have a voice in setting policy on national, state and local green projects."

The growing labor coalition mobilizing activists for the march includes DC 37, the Amalgamated Transit Union, and units of the Transport Workers, Service Employees, Auto Workers, Teamsters and Communications Workers unions.

The Sept. 23 U.N. Climate Summit will bring together world leaders and representatives of finance, government, business and civic groups in New York City a year before countries gather to try conclude a global climate agreement.

Historically, many unions have believed environmental regulations and energy-saving projects threaten jobs, but in recent years, unions, especially those in education, public service, mass transit and health care, have grown to understand that environmental degradation endangers the economy and people's lives - and that green jobs are part of the solution to climate change.

Members and retirees interested in participating should return the coupon to the DC 37 Political Action Dept. Additional information is available at www.peoples climatemarch.org.