Examples of proposals accepted by management

Positively, the LRD survey found many examples of environmental action that happened because of campaigning by union reps. In nearly 40% of cases respondents said a union proposal on the environment/climate change had been accepted by management. As well as the examples listed below, many further cases of successful union-led environmental action can be found in the previous chapters. Prospect reps at Scottish National Heritage: “It was the union that first proposed that we have a member of staff devoted to greening its own activities and this was accepted by management.” FBU reps based in the West Country encouraged the production of the Environmental Statement which was adopted by the service and led to the appointment of an environmental officer.

Have union proposals on the environment been accepted by management?

Prospect reps at telecoms company BT successfully negotiated a change to plumbed in water, instead of bottled drinking water. Similarly an FBU rep based in Suffolk said he managed to get the fire service to purchase a personal issue drinks bottle for every operational fire fighter to cut down on the use of disposable bottles of water. FBU reps were also successful in getting a hot water solar panel installed on a new build fire station and movement sensors on lighting in some areas.

UNISON reps at the University of Hertfordshire were behind the introduction of a bike purchase scheme and subsidised bus tickets for staff and a UNISON rep in the NHS said their lobbying resulted in sensor lighting being installed. Campaigning by GMB reps in local government in Manchester resulted in equipment being switched off when not in use.

Unite reps working for a food retailer have worked to persuade their employer’s suppliers to cut down on non-recyclable products which are delivered to the site, and they are also putting measures in place for new heating/extraction units as a response to climate change.A Unite rep working for a manufacturer of household appliances has been working on transport logistics, and by introducing the more efficient use of vehicles is saving several thousand litres of fuel.