Global climate change is not just an ecological concern. It is emerging as a significant issue facing industry and workers. Members of the labor and environment communities met on November 21 to identify common ground on how to address the impacts of global warming. The event was co-sponsored by MEC and the Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment (ASJE) and was held at the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) hall in Madison Heights.

The workshop was part of an ongoing effort between ASJE and the Midwest Power Plant Campaign to look at worker-friendly ways to clean up coal-burning power plants. Similar events were previously held in Minnesota and Ohio.

Using a curriculum developed by the Public Health Institute, facilitators led discussions on identifying climate change as a labor issue and presented the basic science behind global warming. The goal was not to agree on a prescribed policy. Instead, various options for a "just transition" package were introduced that dealt with jobs lost to climate-related changes in the economy.

Despite competition from other labor events on the same day, the workshop attracted 21 union representatives, balanced by an equal number of environmentalists. At the end of the session, participants resolved to find ways to continue the dialogue. Proposed ideas include regular follow-up meetings and better collaboration on legislative and political campaigns.