"We\'re here today to dispel the myth that you can\'t have good jobs and a clean environment,\'\' said Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers."It\'s not one or the other. It\'s both or neither!"
Gerard and Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, visited Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania this week as part of their "Road to Energy Independence" tour. They are promoting a national energy initiative aimed at providing clean jobs and new technologies that would lessen U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
They found a receptive audience in Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, both of whom were early supporters of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The mayors said it\'s time for a Twin Cities initiative to focus on development policies that promote both good-paying jobs and a clean environment.
"People are getting this (approach)," Coleman said, "but we need to move quicker."
Added Rybak, "You\'ve got two cities that are white-hot ready to get this done."
The forum was held at the UAW Local 879 hall, across the street from Ford Motor\'s manufacturing plant in St. Paul, which is scheduled to close in 2008 as part of a massive restructuring of the domestic automobile industry. The facility makes Ford Ranger trucks and employs about 1,850 UAW members.
The plant, one of the few that uses clean, hydroelectric power, could be redeveloped for other manufacturing uses, speakers at the forum said.
 |
| Dave Foster moderated the forum as listening (from left) were Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard and Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope. |
"Today is a perfect opportunity for us to launch, against the backdrop of the closing of the Ford plant, the kind of discussion that moves our country forward," said Dave Foster, former Steelworkers District Director who now heads the national Blue-Green Alliance, a labor-environmental organization.
The Ford site could be redeveloped as a green manufacturer of hybrid vehicles or an assembly plant to produce parts for wind mills, solar power systems or other alternative energy products, speakers at the forum said. UAW Local 879, which represents the Ford plant workers, presented a green production proposal to Ford management, but the company was not receptive.
In addition to seeking ways to redevelop the Ford plant, the mayors said they will work together on issues such as promoting green building practices and state legislation to mandate greater production of renewable energy.
Pope said U.S. firms and the federal government better wake up and respond to such proposals – or watch their market share and economy be overtaken by countries such as India and China.
"Innovate and modernize or die," Pope said. "That\'s why we have a crisis in this country."
Newer, more innovative production methods are cleaner for the environment and safer for workers, he noted.
Developing alternative sources of energy – such as wind power – should be the top priority for the United States, Pope said.
"Let\'s be very clear. It is an enormous global race that every capital – except Washington, D.C. – is focused on."
Energy independence means rethinking the country\'s single-minded devotion to fossil fuels, Gerard said. The $5 billion in federal subsidies that go to oil companies every year could be spent to retrofit schools and government buildings to be energy-efficient.
"We would save more foreign oil than the kids are dying for in Iraq," he said.
For more information
To view video clips of Gerard and Pope speaking in St.Paul, go to this link on the USW website:
http://www.usw.org/usw/program/content/3520.php
Labor & Sustainability Conference
UAW Local 879 is co-sponsoring a Labor & Sustainability Conference on January 19 and 20, 2007, at the Local 879 hall in St. Paul. Keynote speaker will be former union organizer and author Jack Rasmus, who will talk about "Building a Movement for Sustainability: How Labor Can Respond to the Climate Crisis." Watch Workday Minnesota for more details or contact Local 879 by phone, 651-699-4246, or e-mail uaw879@uaw879.org
 |
| Discussion continued after the forum ended. Here UAW Local87 member Lynn Hinkle talks with Carl Pope (left) and another participant. |
Share
"We\’re here today to dispel the myth that you can\’t have good jobs and a clean environment,\’\’ said Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers."It\’s not one or the other. It\’s both or neither!"
Gerard and Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, visited Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania this week as part of their "Road to Energy Independence" tour. They are promoting a national energy initiative aimed at providing clean jobs and new technologies that would lessen U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
They found a receptive audience in Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, both of whom were early supporters of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The mayors said it\’s time for a Twin Cities initiative to focus on development policies that promote both good-paying jobs and a clean environment.
"People are getting this (approach)," Coleman said, "but we need to move quicker."
Added Rybak, "You\’ve got two cities that are white-hot ready to get this done."
The forum was held at the UAW Local 879 hall, across the street from Ford Motor\’s manufacturing plant in St. Paul, which is scheduled to close in 2008 as part of a massive restructuring of the domestic automobile industry. The facility makes Ford Ranger trucks and employs about 1,850 UAW members.
The plant, one of the few that uses clean, hydroelectric power, could be redeveloped for other manufacturing uses, speakers at the forum said.
|
| Dave Foster moderated the forum as listening (from left) were Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard and Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope. |
"Today is a perfect opportunity for us to launch, against the backdrop of the closing of the Ford plant, the kind of discussion that moves our country forward," said Dave Foster, former Steelworkers District Director who now heads the national Blue-Green Alliance, a labor-environmental organization.
The Ford site could be redeveloped as a green manufacturer of hybrid vehicles or an assembly plant to produce parts for wind mills, solar power systems or other alternative energy products, speakers at the forum said. UAW Local 879, which represents the Ford plant workers, presented a green production proposal to Ford management, but the company was not receptive.
In addition to seeking ways to redevelop the Ford plant, the mayors said they will work together on issues such as promoting green building practices and state legislation to mandate greater production of renewable energy.
Pope said U.S. firms and the federal government better wake up and respond to such proposals – or watch their market share and economy be overtaken by countries such as India and China.
"Innovate and modernize or die," Pope said. "That\’s why we have a crisis in this country."
Newer, more innovative production methods are cleaner for the environment and safer for workers, he noted.
Developing alternative sources of energy – such as wind power – should be the top priority for the United States, Pope said.
"Let\’s be very clear. It is an enormous global race that every capital – except Washington, D.C. – is focused on."
Energy independence means rethinking the country\’s single-minded devotion to fossil fuels, Gerard said. The $5 billion in federal subsidies that go to oil companies every year could be spent to retrofit schools and government buildings to be energy-efficient.
"We would save more foreign oil than the kids are dying for in Iraq," he said.
For more information
To view video clips of Gerard and Pope speaking in St.Paul, go to this link on the USW website:
http://www.usw.org/usw/program/content/3520.php
Labor & Sustainability Conference
UAW Local 879 is co-sponsoring a Labor & Sustainability Conference on January 19 and 20, 2007, at the Local 879 hall in St. Paul. Keynote speaker will be former union organizer and author Jack Rasmus, who will talk about "Building a Movement for Sustainability: How Labor Can Respond to the Climate Crisis." Watch Workday Minnesota for more details or contact Local 879 by phone, 651-699-4246, or e-mail uaw879@uaw879.org
|
| Discussion continued after the forum ended. Here UAW Local87 member Lynn Hinkle talks with Carl Pope (left) and another participant. |