To mark the occasion of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Sierra Club President Allison Chin addressed a group of SEIU employees during a lunch lecture on the topics of grassroots activism, the Employee Free Choice Act and working together with labor in the Blue Green Alliance.

Allowing workers a democratic chance to forum unions is an important way to help ensure that that green jobs in the new clean energy economy will also be good family-supporting jobs. Recognizing that protecting workers' rights to organize is critical to the future of our green economy, the Sierra Club has stood with labor in our campaign for the Employee Free Choice Act. "Passing the Employee Free Choice is one of our most important legislative priorities," said Chin. "Because an economy that treats workers fairly is one that is fundamentally better for our planet." Watch Allison speak to learn more about our joint efforts and why a strong labor movement is crucial to a strong environmental movement:

Join the fight for the Employee Free Choice Act.

Until pretty recently, many people had never heard of "green-collar jobs." Yet the phrase is suddenly everywhere--especially on policymakers' tongues. "You can think about a green-collar job as a blue-collar job that's been upgraded, or unskilled, to better respect the environment," says Van Jones, the newly-appointed special adviser to the White House on green jobs, enterprise and innovation.

In the greening of the economy, workers and low-income people are not a liability or a line item--they are a part of the solution. One union leading the way on green initiatives is SEIU Local 721. Local 721 is part of the LA Apollo Alliance, which helped LA make green history on April 8 when its City Council approved a first-in-the-nation plan to create jobs, cut carbon emissions, and create a way out of poverty for disadvantaged workers. The ordinance supports a green retrofit of city buildings that will provide "green training" to low-income workers and create hundreds of good jobs.

SEIU's largest property service local 32BJ has established an energy-efficiency training program for building superintendents and many other locals (including 721) are working to develop similar green custodial programs.

We know SEIU members and their local unions across the country are working to promote energy efficiency and quality green jobs--but we want to hear more. Please share with us what your union is doing, because we'd love to highlight it on SEIU.org.

This Earth Day marks a turning point in the environmental movement, with union members speaking out more than ever before for "good jobs, green jobs" and a clean energy economy.

Blue Green Alliance partners, including SEIU, said today that working people are the new faces of Earth Day, and that Congress must pass the Employee Free Choice Act to ensure jobs in the clean energy economy are good, family-supporting green jobs. "Union members are already building the green economy, from New York to Minnesota to California," said SEIU Executive VP Gerry Hudson. "In the face of crisis, we have an opportunity to create the kinds of jobs that connect environmental protection and economic justice in communities across the country."

Watch our new ad, entitled "America Wants Green Jobs:"

This Earth Day, tell Congress to put millions of Americans back to work in a green economy.

SEIU's Anna Burger joined women from labor, business, academic and advocacy organizations to shine a light on the important role that women will play in our green economy at an Earth Day roundtable today at the Department of Labor headquarters.

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, who testified in the Senate yesterday on green jobs training for workers, co-hosted the event with White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley. During this first-of-its-kind roundtable, experts on women and green jobs from every sector of the economy shared strategies for ensuring women have access to all the green economy has to offer.

There is a growing recognition that green jobs will play a key role in boosting renewable clean energy, fighting global warming, helping our country recover from the current financial crisis and moving workers into well-paying, middle-class jobs. Research by the Center of American Progress (CAP) has demonstrated that nearly four times more jobs are created through green strategies, including more jobs at every step in the pay scale and across every skill level.

President Obama has made green-collar jobs a large part of his approach to the economic crisis. The $787 billion economic stimulus bill enacted in February includes $500 million for green jobs training to prepare workers for the energy sector. However, right now a majority of green jobs exist in fields that are largely male-dominated, such as engineering, agriculture and manufacturing. This Earth Day roundtable will facilitate discussions on how we can work together in the future to ensure that women have access to the new green economy and develop ways to bring women more into the field.

SEIU, along with Change to Win unions, has long championed efforts to create jobs through building a clean-energy economy and expanding green jobs training. This Earth Day roundtable recognizing women's centrality on this issue and pledging to involve them in its solution is an encouraging step towards green development initiatives to create job opportunities for all Americans. "The clean economy will inevitably create huge changes in employment, and green jobs training will improve workers' employment opportunities in occupations that pay good wages," said SEIU's Anna Burger.

Learn more about SEIU's union-wide green negotiating initiative.

On Friday, four labor unions and two environmental organizations representing six million people announced their support for comprehensive cap-and-trade climate change legislation in 2009. The Blue Green Alliance and its partner organizations said this legislation is an effective way to rapidly put millions of Americans back to work building a clean energy economy and to reduce global warming emissions to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

The Alliance's goal is nothing less than to transform the U.S. economy through global warming solutions, and create millions of family-sustaining green jobs in the clean energy economy. "We have a unique opportunity to be part of the solution and to improve the lives of working people and their families for generations to come," said Gerry Hudson, International Executive Vice President of SEIU. "It is our duty to ensure that legislation develops a cap-and-trade system that connects environmental justice to economic justice in a way that supports communities across America and creates good, green jobs."

The Blue Green Alliance supports a reduction of U.S. emissions by at least 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, and supports a renewed U.S. effort to forge a global treaty to reduce worldwide emissions by 50 percent by that same date. The Alliance also supports complementary regulation, including standards for renewable energy, energy efficiency resources and fuel and appliance efficiency. In addition, climate change legislation should include investments in a wide range of technologies -- including carbon, capture and sequestration technology -- and federal financing for the transition to a clean energy economy. Read the policy statement here.

David Foster, executive director of the Blue Green Alliance, spoke of the significance of the labor and environmental movements embracing a common vision for the future, saying, "For the first time, a substantial number of unions representing workers across a broad section of the American economy have endorsed the principle that the way out of our current economic turmoil is through major investments in solving global warming."

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has promised to introduce climate change legislation by Memorial Day. Tomorrow, he and Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) will release a draft bill that is predicted to be the centerpiece of the upcoming climate policy debate. President Obama has also expressed his support for Congress to focus its attention on passing cap-and-trade legislation as part of his energy and climate change agenda to move away from polluting energy resources toward cleaner energy sources.

The Blue Green Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the green economy. Formed initially by the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club in 2006, the organization has recently grown to include SEIU, NRDC, CWA, and LIUNA.

More details here and at www.bluegreenalliance.org.

Change to Win Chair and SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger, issued a statement today about the first meeting of the Middle Class Task Force today, chaired by Vice President Joe Biden, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

The world is facing a historic opportunity to rebuild our global economy through investments in sustainable projects that will create new jobs, reduce our dependence on oil and protect our planet after decades of mismanagement.

Today's meeting underscores this Administrations' commitment to making sure American businesses and American workers are leaders in the industry of the future as our parents and grandparents led in the industries of the past. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed earlier this month includes a significant investment for projects both big and small that will rebuild our country and create the high-paying jobs of tomorrow.

These jobs represent a clear path to a stronger middle class and a stronger American economy that will benefit everyone. Change to Win unions across the country welcome this opportunity to continue working with communities and employers to find green ways to do millions of jobs that strengthen the foundation of this country. Today is an important step forward for businesses, communities and workers to come together to create a greener and stronger America.

The emerging green economy has the potential to make the American Dream a reality for America's workers. Change to Win unions have been at the forefront in helping create a green pathway to prosperity for working families.

• SEIU has committed to "bargaining green" across health care, public sector, and property service divisions, and the union's largest property service local has established an energy efficiency training program for building superintendents. The Nation recently highlighted the work SEIU 32BJ's Hector Norat, Superintendent of New York City's 1400 on Fifth for his work on the building's residential geothermal heating and cooling system, the largest in the country.
• Change to Win unions, including the Carpenters, LIUNA, and Teamsters, are partnering with cutting edge developer Gerding Edlen to build sustainable communities and create sustainable jobs.
• The Teamsters partnered with environmentalists to enact a landmark policy developed under Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's leadership to clean up toxic diesel emissions, improve working conditions for thousands of truck drivers, and pave the way for green growth in the nation's largest port complex.
• The Laborers have launched an initiative with the City of Newark and community-based organization GANE to train local residents in energy-efficiency retrofitting, building the workforce that will be needed to implement home weatherization on a large scale as promised by President Obama and funded in the Recovery Act.
• John Sarich, Resident Manager of New York City's William Beaver House and member of SEIU 32BJ, helped the management company and residents save money through significantly reducing their energy bills.

The U.S. can create 2 million jobs and reduce the unemployment rate to 4.4 percent over 2 years by investing in the green economy, according to a report last month by the Center for American Progress.

Green job creation and training is happening right now, all over the country, fueled by the belief that it is possible to ease the intensity of our climate crisis and employ more people to work in better jobs (all at the same time!). And SEIU is committed to green building maintenance and creating quality green jobs. Nowhere is this commitment more evident within this union than in SEIU's largest property service workers union, Local 32BJ, who offers its building supers an energy-efficiency training program. (Read more about Local 32BJ's program in The Nation).

SEIU is hosting the Change That Works open art exhibit at its International headquarters in Washington, DC from January 19 through January 22. The works of art to be displayed were commissioned by acclaimed street artist Shepard Fairey, who created the iconic Obama "HOPE" image.

The exhibit shines a spotlight on artists across the country who use their voices to amplify and motivate the grass roots movement for social justice and political action--many of whom were the winners and finalists of MANIFEST HOPE's previous contest during the Democratic National Convention that helped spread the word about Barack Obama and the inspirational themes of his candidacy. (You can view artwork of the Denver contest finalists--previewed below--at MoveOn.org)

To celebrate the unveiling of the Change That Works art exhibit, SEIU will host a special reception in the exhibit space at 1800 Mass Ave from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, January 19th . This reception is open to all SEIU staff, leaders and community political partners (RSVP to seiu-change@seiu.org if you'd like to attend).

On a sidenote: A limited-edition print designed by Shepard Fairey in honor of President-elect Obama's Inauguration is now available for purchase on the Presidential Inaugural Committee's website for $100.00. A run of only 10,000 numbered prints have been made of this special illustration commemorating the Inaugural occasion. Fairey's new design can be viewed and purchased by visiting the PIC online store here.

Nationwide Call for Artwork Submissions Highlighting Heath Care Reform, the Green Economy and Workers' Rights.

SEIU, MoveOn PAC, and Obey Giant are partnering with Manifest Hope:DC in launching a nationwide contest to gather the best work celebrating the grass roots campaign that helped elect Barack Obama as president. The contest is calling for entries of visual artwork that use positive messaging to convey the importance of encouraging a national dialogue focused on heathcare reform, the green economy and workers' rights. Five pieces in each of the three categories will be selected and reviewed by a panel of judges to include famed artist Shepard Fairey, film director Spike Lee, SEIU 775NW Healthcare President David Rolf and many more.

Entries for submission to this inspiring visual call-to-action are due by January 9. The artwork of the fifteen contest winners will be publicly displayed to DC area residents and the 2 million people expected to gather in Washington for Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration from Friday, January 16th, 2009 through Monday, January 19th, 2009. The exhibit will be showcased at Manifest Hope:DC (3333 M Street N.W., Washington, DC).

Art played an unprecedented role in this election--most of us will never forget many of the arresting visual images created by artists who dedicated themselves to helping spread Obama's prevailing message of Hope everywhere in our country and abroad. Help to capture and maintain the energy we have experienced in Barack Obama's momentous climb to the White House by spreading the word about this contest or submitting an entry.

This online contest offers artists the opportunity to make one submission per category, totaling a maximum of three submissions:

* Manifest Opportunity - Stimulating The Green Economy
* Manifest Change - Health Care Reform
* Manifest Unity - Protecting Workers' Rights

This will be the second art contest for Manifest Destiny in the last year, building on the success of the gallery showcase at the Democratic National Convention that helped spread the word about Barack Obama and the inspirational themes of his candidacy. (You can view artwork of the Denver contest finalists at MoveOn.org)

For more information, visit Manifest Hope:DC online at http://www.ManifestHope.com

WASHINGTON, DC -- SEIU President Andy Stern issued the following statement today regarding the negotiations of a bailout of the Big Three automakers:

"Today, amidst global economic insecurity, members of Congress and the White House are debating how and how much taxpayers will come to the aid of America's ailing auto industry. We stand together at a moment when change is no longer on the horizon but determined by the choices we make each day. This bailout gives us the opportunity to not just rescue another failing industry but to imagine how our next steps could be part of wider economic solutions that will benefit all working families.

"First and foremost, the auto executives could join efforts to reform our failing health care system. Ours is the only major economy on earth that puts the price of health care on the cost of our products--a reality that eats away at the competitiveness of American cars in the global marketplace. For years, the voice of the Big Three has been silent in the call for Congress to pass affordable, quality health care for all Americans. By breaking contractual agreements and leaving workers without access to health care, the automakers have cut costs at the expense of the hardworking men and women who built their companies. It is not too late for the auto executives to ask Congress to shoulder some portion of health care for retirees until national health care is achieved--a step that would relieve the automakers of a major cost and extend benefits to individuals who need expanded health care benefits.

"Secondly, the United States should replace its gas-guzzling and aging fleet with fuel efficient cars produced by the Big Three. By pre-ordering and pre-paying for more vehicles built to a specification that guarantees considerably higher fuel efficiency, the government could simultaneously support the industry, create demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles, reduce carbon-emissions and take steps toward greening the economy.

"Finally, the auto executives should drop expensive and backward-looking emissions lawsuits against states like California and instead encourage adoption of tougher national emissions standards. This would level the playing field for automakers and position them as part of the solution--rather than part of the problem--as our nation faces an undeniable and monumental climate change crisis.

"We now know from unfortunate experience that change is inevitable, but progress is optional. If taxpayers are going to be asked to invest in $15 billion or more in bridge loans to keep the industry afloat, the package must include serious taxpayer protections, limits on executive pay, and a strong hand for Congress and the White House in shaping and implementing the immediate restructuring necessary to restore the competitiveness of these three engines of the American economy."