As part of Federation’s response to the climate emergency, the union will appoint a Climate Emergency Coordinator to inform its escalated climate strategy and policy.
The coordinator, for an initial six-month term, will be appointed by Federation’s Senior Officers to advise them on future policies and activities.
A recommendation to February Council was critical of the state and federal governments, labelling them climate deniers for their failure to act and refusal to “heed the stark advice by experts that we were on the brink of a catastrophe and respond favourably to their pleas”.
This failure had contributed to the level of devastation and loss this summer, the intensity of which could have been alleviated.
The Climate Emergency Coordinator will liaise with other entities in the environmental and union sphere to maximise activist involvement of the union and teachers across the state. The coordinator will also:
• draft information for members about the climate crisis
• research the impact of the crisis on schools, TAFE and communities reliant on public education
• analyse the impact of the Department and TAFE on the environment and seek to build climate- friendly policies
• investigate the physical and psychological impact on young people
• identify teaching materials
• advise Senior Officers on ways the union can have a sustained effect on responding to the emergency.
SafeWork NSW, the state’s regulatory authority on health and safety, maintains a Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities.
Despite being updated as recently as August 2019, it contains no mention of outdoor air quality, nor any guidelines for when workers should cease outdoor work.
The Council decision recognised the physical and psychological impact on our members of the devastating bushfires. Federation will provide support to Workplace Committees to address workplace health and safety issues by utilising the Department’s Work Health and Safety Issue Resolution procedures. The recommendation identified four key areas of action as immediate responsibilities for Federation.
Looking after our members: Applications are open under Federation’s Emergency Relief Fund, with an ex gratia payment of up to $1000, and an exemption from membership contributions is available in cases of hardship.
Looking after our schools and TAFE colleges: Federation will continue to monitor the adequacy of state government commitments as the needs of schools and TAFE change over the medium and long term.
Looking after our communities: Schools and TAFE are at the heart of their communities. Teacher Associations in affected areas will be assisted to organise an event to bring teachers and the community together. Financial assistance will be provided to association on request.
Looking after our planet: Federation also has a responsibility to take a leadership role in the global climate emergency.
Update: Since February Council, Federation has appointed a Climate Change Coordinator and written to Unions NSW seeking an urgent meeting to determine further actions that the union movement can take to build a sustainable, coordinated, union-led movement in response to the climate emergency.