WORLD WORLDWIDE POLAND WARSAW News Journal Update - (en) Poland, OZZIP: Labor movement and climate (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

 At the Climate Activism Center "Gniazdo" in Warsaw on Earth Day - April 22 - a

discussion panel "Workers' movement and climate" was held. The starting point for
the conversation was the publication of the Team for Climate and Ecology of the
Employee Initiative "Against Exploitation and Devastation. Workers' Initiative in
the face of the climate and ecological crisis. ---- The panel was attended by
representatives of our trade union - Weronika Parfianowicz (Employee Initiative
Plant Committee at the University of Warsaw) and Antoni Wielesztort (Amazon
Employee Initiative), as well as activists representing various climate and
environmental organizations: Agnieszka Kula (Climate Solidarity Movement) ,
Wiktoria Jedroszkowiak (East Initiative) and Marta Palinska (Greenpeace Poland
Foundation).
The event was opened by the members of the Warsaw IP Youth Circle, outlining the
key topics raised in the publication. They also presented the club's motivations
for reactivating the ecological team: disappointment with the absence of employee
issues in the postulates of climate movements and the need to create space for
social involvement for ecologically, but also socially oriented young people. The
activists strongly emphasized the need to break the narrative of the liberal
media, antagonizing the labor and climate movements.

The discussion started with a question about cooperation between groups: how can
it be implemented, what challenges does it pose, where are the most obvious areas
for it to be addressed? It seems that in the first place both movements must open
up to each other's areas of interest and work out consensual postulates, aware
that sometimes there may be conflicts of interest. There was talk of the need to
get out of the information bubble of big-city movements and listen to the voices
of female trade unionists, employees and tenants from all corners of Poland. All
interviewees agreed that presence and physical support during lockdowns, strikes
or protests would be a good starting point.

The subject of emancipation of employees and their inclusion in making strategic
decisions regarding resource management in enterprises appeared in the debate. It
has been noted that workers tend to be the main victims of pollution and
emissions, while at the same time having control over the production processes
that emit these pollutants. For this reason, they have both an interest and the
tools to influence the pro-ecological regulations in workplaces by exerting
pressure on employers. The theme that sparked a lively debate turned out to be
cooperatives, in particular energy cooperatives. The panelists and the audience
came to the conclusion that cooperatives can play an important role in creating a
fairer social reality, but they cannot be the only alternative to current
practices. Everyone agreed that we needed a variety of tactics to hit the richest
and the politicians in their service to fight for the world without exploiting
the planet and exploiting the working class.

Weronika Parfianowicz listed the postulates that could be taken up by climate
movements, and which at the same time respond to the problems raised by trade
unions. The first and most important is the reduction of working time, the
ecological dimension of which should be emphasized in the public debate - it is
estimated that one production day significantly reduces the carbon footprint. In
addition, practices that force employees to exceed energy expenditure should be
combated. In Amazon warehouses, this results in an increase not only in health
but also in ecological costs. Similarly, taking care of a high standard of public
services makes it possible to optimize emissions in the energy sector or
agriculture, and at the same time improves the quality of life of all citizens,
e.g. by combating energy poverty.

In the statements of people associated with the climate movement, there were
often references to the energy and mining sector. An important issue discussed,
following the publication of "Against Exploitation...", was the issue of
decarbonisation as a flagship postulate of the ecological and climate movement.
Antoni Wiestort from IP Amazon explained that the liberal "green" narratives
focus on coal and primarily hit miners also because historically they are the
best organized and mobilized professional group in Poland. Environmental
activists explained that fossil resources are a priority for pragmatic reasons.
They pointed out that changes in the energy sector are relatively easier to
enforce. This is because it is an industry managed to a large extent by
state-owned companies - so decision-makers and capital are not dispersed, which
makes it easier to identify people who are to be responsible for changing the
energy policy. Secondly, this sector is responsible for the largest percentage of
greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. In response, trade
unionists mentioned industries dominated by private entities, which are equally
emission-intensive on a global and European scale, but overlooked in the
narrative of ecologists. For example, Amazon's operations create as much carbon
footprint as the top 5 emitters in the European Union and more than any European
coal-fired power plant.

The point of contention in the discussion turned out to be the city of Konin - or
rather, how the transformation was carried out in its vicinity and what tools
would be used to "democratize" this process. One of the activists cited the
changes in Konin as an example of good practice and inspiration for the future,
involving local residents and employees in the decision-making process by means
of the so-called "round tables". Unfortunately, the employee perspective looks a
bit less optimistic. You can also read about it in our publication "Against
exploitation and devastation...": Statistical data confirm that the costs of
restructuring the industry in the Konin Basin are borne primarily by the working
people. (...) Even in 2002, in the Konin poviat, the average monthly salary was
on average much higher than the national average (by more than 12%); in 2016 it
was significantly lower (by over 22%!). (...) In the city of Konin and in the
Turek poviat, a relative decrease in the average salary (compared to the national
average) can also be clearly observed - over these several years. It also shows
that the methods of liberal participation - despite lofty assumptions - fail in
practice. Employees and CEOs of large companies sitting together at "round
tables" are never truly equal - only some of them are supported by great capital
and the support of politicians and decision-makers. Moreover, such talks are
often attended by the presidents of large, bureaucratic trade union headquarters,
who have long lost contact with the realities of the ordinary worker. Even if
representatives of these trade union organizations show their approval of the
proposed solutions, thousands of redundant or degraded workers will remain
dissatisfied. It is an illusion of real participation and democracy in the workplace.

In addition, it is worth asking the question not only about how energy is
produced, but also - for what purpose? Some emission-intensive sectors, such as
heating or agriculture, are socially desirable, while others - for example,
luxury goods or low-quality gadgets - are much less, if not quite the opposite.
In addition, the former are used (or should be) by everyone, while the latter are
used only by a handful of the richest, responsible for the largest part of
emissions. This raises the question of the role of (anti)capitalism in the fight
to stop the degradation of the natural environment and the climate catastrophe.
Although it is more difficult to hold global corporations or millionaires
accountable, they exploit both the Earth and workers in the first place. It is
therefore necessary to pay more attention to private companies, not only to the
actions of states, and to understand that it is the mechanisms of this economic
and social system that are at the source of both crises - ecological and social.
We need more radical and uncompromising narratives and practices to actually
change the world for the better.

Aleksandra Taran
Warsaw Circle of Young Workers' Initiative
Climate and Ecology Team

Labels climate ecology employees trade unions
Publications

EMPLOYEE INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER - SPECIAL ISSUE MARCH 2023

NEWSLETTER EMPLOYEE INITIATIVE NO. 60

NEWSLETTER EMPLOYEE INITIATIVE NO. 59

TRADE UNION AT YOUR WORKPLACE. DON'T WAIT - GET ORGANIZED!

https://www.ozzip.pl/informacje/mazowieckie/item/2970-ruch-pracowniczy-a-klimat
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