Climate, manufacturing growth converge in new US plan

The United Steelworkers (USW) labour union and the Sierra Club are pushing to address manufacturing growth and climate change under the same umbrella, Kallanish understands. 

The so-called BlueGreen Alliance initiative spearheaded by the two groups “...outlines a set of national actions necessary to create a manufacturing economy that is globally competitive, clean, safe and fair for workers and communities,” according to a union statement. 

The plan’s five pillars include investment in new manufacturing techniques; technological innovation; responsible raw material sourcing and recycling; public investment strategies; and adjusting government oversight. 

"The USW will always reject the false notion that we must choose between good jobs and a clean environment," says USW International president Tom Conway. "We believe this country must have both, or we will have neither.”

Conway adds that the Covid-19 pandemic shed a harsh light on the work still ahead for US manufacturing concerns. 

“We don't have the luxury of time," Conway says. "We need to act now, to ensure the long-term health of our citizens, our economy and our planet."

Conway will elaborate further before a US Senate committee on 1 July.