How To Make a Difference in Your Workplace
ROBERT RALPH
Ever wondered if anyone at work gives a hoot about the impact of the workplace on climate and environment? They probably do, but hey, we’re all beavering away making a living. It’s hard enough to get the job done without trying to save the planet right? Well it turns out we should think again: there are some ‘easy wins’ to get the ball rolling, get everyone in the workplace thinking about this stuff and start to move in a better direction.
The local Extinction Rebellion team are at it again – this time in partnership with the Trades Council. They’ve gathered four widely different speakers together who can tell us how to make that difference: topics will vary from those easy wins that can be implemented quickly through to changing workplace culture, fossil fuel divestment of pension funds and information around the law.
Simon Hester from Hastings Trades Council explains: “It’s vital that workers take the lead in combating climate change because the corporations and employers are focussed on profit-making, the underlying cause of the climate catastrophe. We want a society where the needs of people and planet come before the profits of big business. Workers have the collective power to influence our own workplaces and to change society. That’s why Hastings & District Trades Union Council supports this event on 30 September. See you there.”
Speaking at the event are:
Melanie Strickland from Lawyers are Responsible, which is organising across the legal profession against its role in criminalising climate protestors and enabling polluting industries.
Paul O’Brien is an RMT rep on the London Underground who sits on the Transport for London pension committee, where they have been winning support for divestment from fossil fuels.
Neil Clark is a digital strategy advisor to companies and charities and is a campaigner for emission reductions across the digital sector.
Jane Ripley, Science Lecturer at East Sussex College, Hastings, is working to embed climate literacy across courses.
It promises to be a fascinating and inspirational event with organisers inviting you to join them for “a day of inspiration, ideas and practical advice about how to get organised and win climate demands at work”.
The event is Saturday 30 September 10.30am-2.30pm, All Saints Hall, 142 All Saints’ St, Hastings TN34 3BG.Entry is free and you can just turn up, but it would help organisers if you booked via Eventbrite bit.ly/climate-at-work.
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