Friday, June 16, 2006

Encouraging News on a Blue-Green Alliance

This article from Grist Magazine describes a new alliance between labor and environmentalists who have not always enjoyed an easy relationship. Let's hope this alliance prospers.

Labor Gains

New green/labor alliance brings Sierra Club and Steelworkers together
By Amanda Griscom Little
16 Jun 2006

Organized labor and environmentalists -- engaged in an on-again-off-again flirtation for years -- may finally be getting to third base.

Last week, Carl Pope, head of the Sierra Club, and Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers (USW) union, announced the formation of the Blue/Green Alliance, linking the nation's biggest industrial labor union with the nation's largest environmental organization. Their motto: "Good jobs, a clean environment, and a safer world."

"The Blue/Green Alliance is one of the most important initiatives undertaken by the environmental movement in decades," said Pope at the launch event. Gerard said the creation of good jobs requires sound environmental strategy: "We cannot have one without the other." [cont'd]

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

About time! This is the only way to move forward. People in both movements need to realize that both of their issues stem from corporate cost externalization. Once we all focus on our commonalities and put aside our differences, we'll see more successes and broader momentum.