There\u2019s nothing green about inequality, unions and social justice campaigners have argued. And a new union\u00a0report advances the idea, warning that gender equality, commonly an afterthought in employment and work quality\u00a0policy discussions, needs to be front and centre in the green jobs debate.<\/p>\n
Women workers and green jobs: employment, equity and equality<\/em>, published in draft in October by Sustainlabour<\/a> and the global union confederation ITUC<\/a>, notes: \u201cGreen economy initiatives which aim at creating more environmentally-sound economies may not fully incorporate fundamental social requirements such as income equity, job quality and gender equality. If they do not take account of these social factors, they may maintain or even aggravate the negative social and distributive trends of the traditional economy including existing inequalities and gender gaps.” \u00a01. Employed<\/em><\/strong>: through anti-discrimination laws and family-friendly mandates;<\/p>\n 2. Recruited <\/em><\/strong>for non-traditional jobs: through quotas and targeted schemes;<\/p>\n 3. Trained <\/em><\/strong>in green jobs skills: through specialized apprenticeship and training initiatives;<\/p>\n 4. Paid equitably<\/em><\/strong>: by reducing gender-based job segmentation and wage gaps; and<\/p>\n 5. Organised<\/em><\/strong>: through increasing the union membership of women in potential green sectors.<\/p>\n \u00a0ITUC and Sustainlabour say that the union movement overall stands to benefit from a green jobs approach that embeds a genuine gender dimension. The report concludes: \u201cIncreased efforts by unions to organise women in the emerging green economy will contribute to the power and sustainability of the labour movement. It will simultaneously advance environmental and social well-being in the long-term interests of both men and women.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cGreen jobs should be unionised jobs where concerted efforts are made to employ, recruit, train, pay equitably and organise women.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0Draft report [pdf<\/a>].<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n L\u2019action gouvernementale et syndicale est n\u00e9cessaire pour augmenter la proportion d\u2019emplois verts occup\u00e9s par les femmes et de garantir la qualit\u00e9 des ces emplois. Des mesures doivent \u00eatre prise pour accroitre le nombre de femmes :<\/p>\n 1. Employ\u00e9es<\/strong> : en \u00e9tablissant des lois contre la discrimination et des mandats favorables aux familles ;<\/p>\n 2. Recrut\u00e9es en emplois non-traditionnels<\/strong> : par des quotas et projets cibl\u00e9s ;<\/p>\n 3. Form\u00e9es \u00e0 des techniques vertes<\/strong> : par des apprentissages sp\u00e9cialis\u00e9s et des initiatives de formation ;<\/p>\n 4. R\u00e9mun\u00e9r\u00e9es \u00e9quitablement<\/strong> : en r\u00e9duisant la segmentation du march\u00e9 du travail li\u00e9e \u00e0 la discrimination et aux \u00e9carts salariaux ; et<\/p>\n 5. Organis\u00e9es<\/strong> : \u00e0 travers une adh\u00e9sion syndicale accrue des femmes dans des secteurs potentiellement verts.<\/p>\n
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\nThe report explores the potential for creating new jobs worldwide in sectors such as renewable energy, green construction, and alternative automotive production, and concludes this will largely depend on what stimulus policies are adopted.\u00a0It adds that \u201cgovernment and union action is required to raise the proportion of green jobs filled by women and to ensure the quality of those jobs.\u201d The union approach has a five step action plan, to increase the number of women who are:<\/p>\n