Towards an understanding of New Zealand Union responses to climate change

ABSTRACT

The vulnerability and viability of industries due to negative impacts of climate change are clear, and ultimately the future of work will be reshaped. Traditionally unions have focused on wages and conditions but there is an increasing call for unions to be at the core of future decisions regarding the climate change response. This article draws on a two-stage project which explored the views of union leaders on union preparedness to climate change and also a survey of union members on their expectations of their unions to the issue. While there is a high level of concern about climate change there has been a sluggish response from unions and a significant gap between the unions’ position and the expressed belief from members that unions need to take an active role on climate change. Members indicated low collective efficacy in their unions to step into leadership roles. We offer several reasons for these findings and suggest ways forward.

KEYWORDS:

• Unions
• climate change
• leadership

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

¹ Klein, N. (2013). Why Unions Need to Join the Climate Fight. Retrieved 16 November 2020 from https://naomiklein.org/why-unions-need-join-climate-fight/

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Julie Douglas

Julie Douglas is a senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology in the School of Business. Her research interests are underpinned by a social justice in employment agenda, and have included care work, pay equity, unions, and the living wage.

Peter McGhee

Peter McGhee is a senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology in the School of Business.  His research interests are in the areas of business ethics, sustainability, and spirituality at work.