Climate, Jobs and Justice Newsletter: November 2023
Edition 12
English | Spanish
SEIU members and worker leaders in the Fight for $15 and a Union are confronted daily by the impacts of climate change and environmental injustice. This newsletter offers a snapshot of how we’re combating climate change and fighting against environmental injustice in our workplaces and communities as well as calling on major industries, corporations, and governments to protect the health, safety and long-term economic well-being of all working people across America.
Hurricanes
Last month we saw one of the strongest Pacific hurricanes to hit land on record. Hurricane Otis made landfall near Acapulco as a Category 5 with wind speeds at 165 miles per hour, causing widespread destruction and claiming 27 lives. Climate change is fueling a rapid intensification of hurricanes, and they are now twice as likely to grow from a weak storm into a major Category 3 or higher hurricane within just 24 hours. Our members live and work in some of the most vulnerable communities, making our climate justice work more essential than ever before.
People Power in Action!!
OSHA Heat Rule
SEIU applauds Congress, President Biden, and OSHA for taking bold action to address this crisis impacting a vast number of industries and endangering one too many workers who are predominantly low-income and from minority communities. Heat continues to be a leading weather-related killer in the U.S., even more than hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. From 1992 through 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 907 U.S. workers were killed and 79,584 were seriously injured due to exposure to excessive heat. While heat threatens workers both from indoor and outdoor industries it disproportionately harms Black and Brown workers. It is essential for OSHA to move with haste and create and finalize a heat standard that protects both indoor and outdoor workers. To that end SEIU’s EJ team is supporting locals to write and submit comment letters. The comment period ends December 23. For more information please email marguerite.young@seiu.org.
Hospital Work Group
The healthcare sector is responsible for close to 10% of greenhouse gas emissions. The hospital industry is responsible for close to 40% of that number. We have the ability to reduce emissions, make our hospital more environmentally sustainable, and create significant savings that can be directed towards member benefits. During the last quarter of 2022 we brought together 6 hospital locals to start the discussion of strategies in the workplace for emission reductions and created recommendations for Local unions. As a result, Local 1991 is advocating for solar energy at Jackson Memorial Hospital. 1991 and National Climate Jobs Resource Center received a grant from the Clean Energy Group to conduct a solar feasibility study at Jackson Memorial's main campus. The study is beginning Fall 2023.
Environmental Justice Webinar Series
The second of our EJ webinar series was held this past September with a stellar panel of guest speakers. The next webinar series will be announced later this month
Updated Nov 20, 2023