Received from: National Education Union
Congress notes that recent scorching weather brought health and safety risks and disruption to schools – leading to chaos across the economy, with parents unable to work.
Conference believes that action on climate change must be a priority for unions. The safety of members and the most vulnerable in society depends on it.
This is also an opportunity to build stronger unions, harnessing the anger of workers, to demand resilient schools, and other public buildings, and healthier workplaces overall.
This is not the moment for government to recoil from net zero commitments. We must redouble efforts to mitigate climate change and adapt to its consequences.
Congress resolves to campaign for:
i. a legally enforceable maximum working indoor temperature of 26C, with stronger legal protections for those more vulnerable to extreme heat because of pregnancy or underlying medical conditions and who require individual risk assessments
ii. government investment to make schools and other critical infrastructure, including hospitals and public transport, climate resilient
iii. government funding to install solar panels across all public buildings, lowering bills and mitigating against further climate change
iv. a legal right to paid time off for green reps to undertake duties and receive training
v. government implementation of the recommendations in the report A Well-Adapted UK by the Climate Change Committee
vi. government implementation of its promised Green New Deal
vii. government funding of community hubs, in public spaces with active cooling measures, to offer refuge in extreme heat, as shelter from the cold is provided in winter.
National Education Union
AMENDMENT
Between the first and second paragraph insert new para:
Congress recognises the increased incidence of wildfires across the UK and applauds the firefighters and other workers responding.
Add two new numbered points as follows: (Congress resolves to campaign for)
viii. the FBU’s call for a National Wildfire Summit
ix. an increase in the number of firefighters and provision of the required equipment to tackle these increasing wildfire risks.
Fire Brigades Union
AMENDMENT
Paragraph one line 2 after ‘to’ insert ‘the railways and’
Point ii. after ‘resilient’ insert ‘, inclusive of reversing cuts to maintenance and renewals budgets on the railways’
ASLEF