Talking climate policy, worker protection with the Blue Green Alliance

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Katie Harris

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Katie Harris, Blue Green Alliance Vice President of Federal Affairs, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss climate policy, environmental regulations and worker protections.

Founded 20 years ago by the Sierra Club and United Steelworkers, the Blue Green Alliance now boasts 15 partners from labor unions and environmental organizations. Harris explained the alliance's core belief that good jobs and a clean environment are not mutually exclusive. This philosophy guides their approach to policy development and implementation, particularly in areas such as archaeology, public lands, energy and the environment. Harris emphasized the importance of consensus-building among partners to address complex issues like balancing job preservation in fossil fuel industries with the transition to cleaner energy sources.

Recent environmental policy changes have raised concerns for the Blue Green Alliance. Harris highlighted the Environmental Protection Agency's list of potential deregulatory actions, including the chemical disaster rule that protects workers and communities near industrial plants. She expressed worry about the pause on the greenhouse gas reduction fund, which was set to create numerous jobs. Harris stressed the need for continued vigilance and advocacy to maintain crucial environmental and worker protections, especially in light of proposals like House Resolution 86, which aims to nullify the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act.

The reintroduction of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act remains a priority for the Blue Green Alliance. While Harris acknowledged the slim chances of the act passing in the current Congress, she emphasized the importance of keeping the issue alive. The alliance continues to advocate for workers' rights and union organizing, particularly in emerging clean energy sectors. Harris noted the challenge of balancing economic growth with environmental protection and worker safety, highlighting the alliance's role in fostering dialogue between labor and environmental groups to find common ground and develop effective policies.

Listen to the full episode to hear more about the Blue Green Alliance's efforts to protect workers and the environment.

America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

Talking climate policy, worker protection with the Blue Green Alliance

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