8. Formalising the union role

The LRD survey found that in over a quarter of the workplaces surveyed (312 organisations; 26%) there are management/union discussions on the environment/climate change. Over 130 of these discussions are taking place in joint green committees or joint green working parties. Some 79 workplaces are also able to report the establishment of a joint union-management environmental agreement. This shows that union reps can have real leverage in their workplaces when it comes to discussing climate change and related issues. Here, we examine the ways these various arrangements play out.

The most popular forum for discussing climate-related issues is clearly the existing joint management-unions health and safety committee (46%, 142 respondents). This is followed by joint management-unions environment committees (28%, 87 respondents).

Where management/union discussions on the environment take place

Compared to 2009 far more discussions are now taking place in joint management-unions health and safety committees (up by 30 percentage points). There is also a sharp rise in the number of discussions taking place in joint management-unions environment committees (up by 22 percentage points).

We asked respondents: “Is there a joint union-management agreement on the environment/climate change at your workplace?” In 7% of workplaces (79 respondents), unions have managed to extend the consultation agenda to cover environmental issues at work even though there is no legal requirement to do so. This means that some employers have a voluntary agreement with the union allowing them to cover environmental issues such as energy use, recycling and green travel plans, whether that role is covered by shop stewards, health and safety representatives or formally recognised union green representatives. Such agreements institutionalise the role of union reps and union members in reducing emissions.

The number of agreements has changed little compared to 2009 when 6% of respondents reported having an agreement.

Where a local management/union agreement on the environment/climate change does exist in most cases it is partly implemented (56%). Encouragingly in well over a third of cases (37%) it is largely or completely implemented.

Local management/union agreements on the environment are: