Received from: ASLEF, National Education Union
Composing motion 66 plus amendments and motion 67
Congress notes that recent scorching weather brought health and safety risks, disruption and chaos across the economy – including to the railways and schools.
Congress recognises the increased incidence of wildfires across the UK and applauds the firefighters and other workers responding.
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.
Congress notes progress made and commends the ongoing campaign to introduce a legal maximum workplace temperature.
Congress is however concerned that the current UK government’s intention to review maximum temperature health and safety guidance will not deliver the required changes. Congress still believes that introducing legislation to set a maximum temperature and ensure employers have a duty to address and mitigate circumstances of working in extreme temperatures is needed.
At present, employers in the transport sector often advise workers to drink plenty of water when working in hot weather but often fail to then provide access to appropriate welfare facilities – as ASLEF’s Dignity for Drivers campaign is calling for.
Congress is further concerned with the increase in anti-net zero rhetoric being exhibited by populist parties such as Reform UK and the impact such policies would have on the climate, leading to more extreme temperatures and ultimately the worsening of working conditions and job losses. 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.
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.
Congress resolves to campaign for:
i. a legally enforceable maximum working indoor temperature to reference 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, highlighting in the campaign the realities for workers across multiple sectors of working in extreme heat
ii. government investment to make critical infrastructure, schools, hospitals and public transport, climate resilient, inclusive of reversing cuts to maintenance and renewals budgets on the railways
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 and shelter from the cold in winter
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.
Congress calls on the TUC General Council to:
a. continue to publicly call out the dangers of climate change denial and the anti-net zero rhetoric, with a focus on the impact such policies will have on workers.
Mover: National Education Union
Seconder: ASLEF
Supported by: Fire Brigades Union