The Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference kicked off today in Washington, DC, bringing together many clean economy leaders from the world of politics, activism, labor, and business to brainstorm and collaborate on how we can best turn the idea of green jobs into reality.

SEIU local leaders and division leads are presenting on several panels during the Good Jobs, Green Jobs May 4th - 6th conference, organized annually by the Blue Green Alliance.

The discussion on today's panel "The Role of Property Service Workers in Green Cleaning and Recycling" was led by (pictured here, from left to right) Local 26 President Javier Morillo, Property Services Division Co-Director Jon Barton and Local 87 President Olga Miranda. Tomorrow, SEIU local leaders and workers will moderate and guide the workshop "A Blueprint for Greening NYC Buildings: 1,000 Superintendents in One Year." SEIU staff are also participating on other panels including:

• "Department of Labor Funded Partnerships: Training Workers for the Clean Energy Economy"
  Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded a significant proportion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants through its Energy Training Partnership Program. The awardees included SEIU Local 32BJ and H-Cap, a national partnership of SEIU healthcare unions and major employers.
• "The Road to Cancun: Next Steps to Reaching an International Climate Change Agreement"
  Limiting greenhouse gas emissions, clean energy technology and just transitions for workers to confront the challenge of climate change will all be a focus of this discussion tomorrow.

"We must train the next generation of workers in the good-paying jobs of the 21st century--and clean energy jobs is one way to do just that," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this morning, in her opening keynote speech at the conference. Other progressive leaders speaking at the 2010 Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference include Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, CO Gov. Bill Ritter and SEIU Executive VP Gerry Hudson.

Coming up during the 2010 Good Jobs Green Jobs Conference
Tomorrow, May 5th is the Green Innovation Expo and on Thursday, hundreds of green jobs advocates will head to Capitol Hill as part of Green Jobs Advocacy Day. Read more about the more 100 workshops at the conference and more at www.greenjobsconference.org

Want to get updates and share in the great ideas being swapped at the GJGJ conference in real time? Tune in here for a live Twitter feed now (and during tomorrow and Thursday's sessions).

SEIU is committed to making sure the emerging green workforce is equipped with the necessary training, fair wages and benefits to ensure this new sector provides middle-class jobs. Much more on how SEIU members are taking action to create good green jobs here.