In September 2017 TUC Congress
took the historic step of unanimously passing a motion on climate change,
noting that it is “..driving unprecedented changes to our environment”.
The motion blamed “..incoherent UK government policy” for “..undermining measures to achieve the UK
carbon reduction targets.”.
TUC General
Secretary, Frances O’Grady’s statement of 5th June 2018 seems
to be equally incoherent in calling for an immediate go ahead to building a
third Heathrow airport runway. She advocates this because it “will create thousands of high-quality
jobs and apprenticeships” and claims this will benefit local communities.
Levels of air pollution, noise
pollution and associated diseases are already high around Heathrow. Those who
suffer most from this are the workers in the airport, workers in its associated
industries, and often their families, if they live nearby. Heathrow expansion will
increase pollution and increase the number of people exposed to it.
As well as this, Heathrow expansion
is will increase greenhouse gas emissions
which are already exceeding UK government reduction targets.
Attempting to insist that the
possible new jobs will be ‘high quality’ and paid a living wage, although a
justified aim for Trades Unionists, is hardly adequate compensation for the
global and local damage that is likely to be caused.
It is sad that Frances O’Grady did not take the opportunity to
advocate alternatives such as the 1 million climate jobs proposals of the Campaign
Against Climate Change. Thousands of
high-quality jobs and apprenticeships could also be created by promoting and
developing low carbon technologies and infrastructure. Furthermore, the
associated community benefits need not be confined to the relatively affluent
South East.
The TUC should be living up to its
aim “to make the working world a better place
for everyone”, not advocating retrograde proposals such as Heathrow
expansion.
ENDS
CONTACT:
P.MURRY, LONDON GREEN PARTY TRADE UNION LIAISON OFFICER PP : THE GREEN PARTY
TRADE UNION GROUP.
EMAIL : YRRUMUK@GOOGLEMAIL.COM TEL.07736525187
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