Just green transition and global union organisations

Row of protesters wearing green and holding signs, one saying 'unions have solutions: just transition'
Photo by Mark Kjerland

About the project

The project was conducted by Linda Clarke and Melahat Sahin-Dikmen. The study was conducted as part of the Canadian research programme Adapting Canadian Workplaces – An International Perspective (ACW), $26,000, 2019–2020.

This project explores policies, innovations and practices of global trade union organisations and builds on previous work on regional and European trade unions. 

The project aims to: 

  • produce a comprehensive overview of trade union approaches to climate change
  • evaluate just green transition strategies
  • identify innovative sectoral or workplace-based initiatives, for detailed study

The Beet Sugar Sustainability Partnership was highlighted in our interviews with the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT). The first case study investigated the partnership by exploring the following topics:

  • sustainability in sugar beet production – what does it mean and why is it important? 
  • beet sugar and bio-economy
  • the development and the implementation of the Sustainability Partnership
  • the role of the union in the sustainability initiative
  • work and employment conditions in beet production 
  • any other issues and challenges in the sector (environmental and labour) 

The second case study on sustainable forestry in Sweden, visited in 2020, was highlighted in our interview with the Building Workers International. 

Contact

For more information, email:

Outputs

Read a PDF of the project's final report.