The AMWU has urged federal politicians to adopt a price on pollution and boost clean energy investment ahead of crucial parliamentary debate in 2011.
 
The call was made by Colleen Gibbs an Environment Project Officer from the AMWU Victoria who joined a coalition of unions, health and environment groups at the Climate Advocacy Day in November.
 
“It was a great opportunity to deliver the message of the union and its members,” she said.
 
“We have done extensive polling of our members in the energy sector. We know the majority of them want to see investment in clean, green energy that can cut emissions and keep jobs.
 
“It was really worthwhile to be able to direct that message to Canberra.”
 
Ms Gibbs, together with representatives from the Climate and Health Alliance, Climate Project and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition lobbied key parliamentarians throughout the day.

The groups met directly with ministers, senators and members of the Federal Government’s climate change roundtables.
 
As the largest union represented at the Climate Advocacy Day meetings, the AMWU was able to garner attention.
 
“The politicians and decision makers we met could see that the AMWU are a large and influential union. Many of them acknowledged that through the strength of our numbers, we can make a impact on this debate,” said Ms Gibbs. 

AMWU Assistant Secretary Mike Nicolaides said the trip was an initiative of Union Climate Connectors, a program for union members coordinated by the ACTU.

“We have had a progressive policy on the environment since the early 90s,” he said. 


“We believe there is a strong connection between acting on climate change and industry development policy. There are jobs in clean energy. Lots of them.

“You can fix the economy and fix the environment at the same time.”

If you would like to join Union Climate Connectors head to www.climateconnectors.org or contact Colleen on (03) 9230 5700