Labor Day Climate Change Initiative: TUCP officials launches carbon war; expresses solidarity with Nepal and Vanuatu

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), the largest labor group in the Philippines, and the Climate Change Commission, observed Labor Day with a landmark agreement that brings Filipino workers directly into the mainstream of effort to mitigate the disastrous impact of climate change.

TUCP President Ernesto F. Herrera and Climate Change Commissioner Heherson T. Alvarez signed a pact launching a “Carbon War” to signal Filipino workers’ all-out support for a legally binding universal agreement to curb global carbon dioxide emission, the goal of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris this coming December.

In a joint statement, Herrera and Alvarez stressed that “Climate change, as a man-made disaster, needs collective global action.  Leaders all over the world are preparing for a de-carbonization deal for the Paris conference to save the ailing planet and guarantee human survival.”

Alvarez warned that “massive and growing accumulation of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere are causing extreme weather events — drought, deadly floods and super typhoons – and inflicting a disproportionate toll on some of the poorest countries in the world, with the Philippines, as the most vulnerable, taking the worst brunt.”

Herrera stressed that importance of getting unions into addressing the scourge of climate change.

“Workers, their families and communities are most vulnerable to the negative impact of climate change and natural disasters. TUCP stands committed to support reducing climate vulnerabilities in their workplaces. We resolve to achieve better protection for vulnerable workers and will seek the adoption of decent, safer, sustainable, and greener modes of production and practices at the workplace,” said Herrera.

Among others, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will pave the way for strengthened activities to increase workers awareness and action on climate change mitigation through labor education and capacity building programs; negotiation for CBA provisions on program and enterprise level actions; and just transition.

Solidarity for the peoples of Nepal and Vanuatu

TUCP and over 100 union leaders and members across industries expressed solidarity with the individuals and families devastated by the recent earthquake in Nepal and the tropical cyclone in Vanuatu.

According to reports, some 132,000 people –54,000 of whom are children –were affected by tropical cyclone Pam which devastated Vanuatu on 13 March 2015.

The earthquake in Nepal on 25 April 2015 killed more than 7,000 people, injured more than twice as many, flattened villages, and rendered hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

Thanks to unions

In further observance of Labor Day, TUCP reminded the public of the many milestones achieved through the sweat and blood of committed trade union leaders and members, which workers are now enjoying. These include tax exemption for minimum wage earners, 13th month pay, maternity and paternity leaves, and anti-sexual harassment and discrimination laws, among others.

Some 50 TUCP leaders distributed “Salamat sa Unyon” leaflets to applicants at the Manila jobs fair and encouraged them to join unions, as they pledged to continue the fight for decent work, family living wages, and secure employment.