GREEN PARTY URGED TO LINK WITH LEFT AND UNIONS

Union power can help secure a just and green society

Call for red-green alliance

Hove – 23 September 2006

“The Green Party needs to reach out to the left and the trade union movement,” said Peter Tatchell in his address at the launch meeting of the Green Left of the Green Party.

“Organised labour has huge potential to help advance the Greens' double agenda of social justice and ecological sustainability,” he said.

Speaking at the Green Left fringe meeting at the Green Party's annual conference in Hove on Saturday 23 September, Mr Tatchell added:

“Many people on the left share the green critique of the pro-business, profit-oriented, market-driven, environmentally-damaging nature of western consumer societies. They are potential allies for the green movement. We should work with the non-sectarian left around a common agenda of participatory democracy, social justice, human rights, environmental protection, peace, global equality and international solidarity. Our aim should be a red-green alliance.

“It is good to see the Green Party building links with the trade union movement. We need to strengthen this emerging green-union alliance.

“The trade union movement has huge weight and influence, locally, nationally and globally. It could be a major social force to challenge environmental degradation.

“Working with the Greens, the Austr ali an trade unions have enforced ‘green bans' on environmentally-destructive developments. This shows the potential for workers and greens to cooperate for the betterment of all.

“Collective bargaining does not have to be about only wages and conditions. Unions could also negotiate green commitments from big corporations. This would benefit the whole of society and win trade unions increased public esteem and support. It could be a means to union renewal, as well as a route to environmental protection.

“Ecological crises like global warming and climate change transcend all classes and nations. They threaten the whole of humanity. Action to halt environmental destruction is therefore the unifying basis for a new global movement against the profit-driven, free market system.

“Preventing ecological disaster requires constraints on the power of big corporations. Profiteering and free trade have to be subordinated to policies for the survival of humanity. The rampant economic growth agenda of capit ali sm threatens the future of life on earth. It puts materi ali sm and money-making before qu ali ty of life and human welfare.

“This gives us a unique opportunity to promote green soci ali sm as a solution to the ecological crises. Only a synthesis of red and green can save our planet and deliver the twin emancipation imperatives of global justice and ecological sustainability,” said Mr Tatchell.