Trade Union Clean Air Network Minutes & Trade Union Clean Air Network Charter

Minutes of the meeting of the Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN)

Thursday, June 20^th, 2019

1.     Attendance – There were 22 people representing 9 trades unions – ASLEF, BFAWU, CWU, GMB, NASUWT, NEU, PCS, TSSA and UCU, and organisations that included British Lung Foundation, British Safety Council, Client Earth and Labour Research Dept. It was hosted by UCU and convened by the Greener Jobs Alliance and the Hazards Campaign.

2.     Union updates – Greener Jobs Alliance and Hazards Campaign provided a brief outline of progress since the February launch meeting was given. 13 unions representing the majority of TUC membership had signed up to the TUCAN Charter. A Union Guide on Air Pollution has been circulated. Unions are welcome to adapt it for distribution to their own reps. Posters and stickers have been distributed and there has been useful coverage in a number of health and safety journals. A TUCAN page has been set up on the GJA web site where the charter and guide can be downloaded. There will be an Air Pollution workshop at the annual Hazards Conference in July.

Each union provided information on air pollution and related developments. Some had organised fringe meetings at annual conference and others are producing new guidance for reps. UCU will be running training courses that would feature air pollution issues. Motions on calling a climate emergency had been passed

3.     Other organisation updates – LRD publishing a new guide on ‘Unions, climate change and just transition’. Client Earth are publishing a 2 page briefing as part of the Healthy Air Campaign. A couple of references to occupational hazards have been inserted and TUCAN has supported. British Lung Foundation is updating the school guidance in conjunction with NEU. Health care professionals are being mobilised and lobbying activity with the Clean Air Parents Network. British Safety Campaign launched the ‘Time to Breathe’ campaign along with the Canairy app to monitor outdoor worker exposure. It had not been easy to get employer buy-in and currently restricted to London. Event in Manchester in late September being planned.

4.     Campaigns on the legal framework and guidance – There have been calls for a new Clean Air Act. Likely to be an Environment Bill with a Clean Air chapter. Will be primary legislation with potential for secondary legislation. Priorities are a) need for improved legal limits with a shorter timescale for introduction b) duties on public bodies c) duty to provide healthy air plans. Action a) Healthy Air Campaign submissions should be circulated to trade union parliamentary groups b) Provide input on the link with other law, particularly HASAWA, COSHH and EPA. Issues of lack of defined legal duties compared to goal setting, plus lack of political will to enforce. C) Hazards and interested unions to liaise with Katie at Client Earth

5.     Monitoring equipment – Review of products currently available. Identifying sectors and workplaces for union based considered. Action – a) GJA to explore options and identify a potential project. A case study will require a minimum of 3 months b) BSC considering making the Canairy app available to everyone rather than just via employers c) Use the Metro Mayor elections to press for greater commitments including installation of more monitoring stations to make the app more viable outside London d) MH (BSC) to circulate case studies

6.     Union rep guidance and other resources – Potential for using on union rep courses. Action – a) JJ to develop a couple of course activities b) provide template for individual unions on request c) A Part 2 guide to provide more detail and incorporate case studies, more on limits of PPE

7.     TUCAN Co-ordination role and future arrangements – Consider a TUCAN conference in the Autumn with potential for regional events. Press for TUCAN presence in upcoming trade union events like TUC. Action – a) GJA and Hazards to approach NW TUC re linking to their JT conference b) MH to help with co-ordination around circulation of updates

8.     AoB and date of next meeting – Autumn meeting. Action – JN to circulate options

Trade Union Clean Air Network Charter 

Trade Unions need a response to what has been described as a public health emergency. Over 40,000 people die each year in the UK where the air that they breathe is a major contributory factor. A significant cause is pollution arising from work and travel to work. It is an occupational health issue that employers take little responsibility for. There is very little recognition of this in national and local authority strategies. This charter provides a framework for unions to campaign for the health and environmental concerns of workers.

1. New Clean Air Act – We support legislation that enshrines the right to breathe clean air into domestic law. It should set new, more stringent legal limits for ambient air quality, which reflect WHO guidelines. There should be a recognition within it of air pollution as an occupational health issue. 

2. Establish a new Environmental Protection Agency – The legislation needs to be backed up by a watchdog body that has the teeth to take public bodies and employers to court. In relation to membership there should be places allocated to representatives of the trade union movement.

3. Update Health and Safety Law - The COSHH Regulations should be updated to reflect new research on indoor and outdoor air pollution. Workplace Exposure Limits should place duties on employers to monitor and adopt control measures for diesel and other toxic emissions. Risk assessment should include environmental impacts caused by or related to work, with an obligation to present strategies for minimising and eradicating pollutants within the workplace and in the wider community.

4. Consult with the workforce – Air quality measures for indoor and outdoor occupational air pollution must be subject to the consultation requirements of the SRSC Regulations.

5. Skills, Training and information –. Employers should be required to raise awareness and support workforce training on risks and control measures. Workers may need access to independent advice on exposure levels.

6. Protecting jobs – Government and employer clean air strategies will have implications for jobs and employment. The application of Just Transition principles must be adopted to ensure positive impacts for workers. Full equality impact assessments, including sex, race and class, must be implemented to ensure positive and fair impacts for workers.

7. Rapid expansion of clean, inexpensive public transport systems – Cleaning up air in the UK will require significant expenditure. It is crucial that those least able to afford it are not expected to pick up the bill. Taxation policy must require fossil fuel companies to subsidise measures for less polluting forms of energy and transport.