A-Infos (en) UK, ACG, Jackdaw 22 - Building a mass movement: role of the workers (ca, de, it, pt, tr) [machine translation]

The movement for change needs to be much, much larger and be based 
firmly in the wider working class, both in the community and in the 
workplace. It must be willing to not only make demands of government but 
to challenge capitalism directly. Those at the point of production, who 
have the power to bring everything to a halt, have a critical role. 
Imagine port workers refusing to let imported Brazilian soya into the 
country. Imagine the fossil fuel workers refusing to work anymore and 
demanding full pay until they get alternative jobs.
However, it is not easy to integrate the union movement into the 
environmental movement. Take the example of Port Talbot. This steelworks 
was the 2nd highest source of CO2 from any single site in the UK. 
Transitioning this steelworks is expected to make a significant impact 
on the UK's emissions. The steel works created high levels of PM10 air 
pollution that blows all over the area.  Decarbonising steelworks is 
necessary in order to tackle the climate emergency as well as pollution 
for local communities. But what about the workers? 3000 jobs have been 
lost as only a few hundred workers are needed for the new operation. 
This will have a devastating impact on workers, their families and the 
community.

The campaign against the third runway is another example of conflict 
between environmentalists, supported by residents, and the workers. 
According to the General Secretary of Unite: "We welcome Heathrow's 
commitment to UK produced steel and we look forward to further 
cooperation with Heathrow Airport and the government on the much needed 
third runway."

Many industries that provide jobs for thousands of workers in the UK and 
millions around the world, are major producers of CO2 emissions. The 
government's attitude towards climate change is largely based on 
ensuring corporations can continue to make profits. At Port Talbot they 
allow 3000 jobs to go so emissions will be reduced and then in Northeast 
Scotland and the Shetlands they support more drilling in the North Sea 
which will provide jobs and increase emissions. Many talk about a 'Just 
Transition'- but clearly that is not happening. Workers in Port Talbot 
can hardly move to the north of Scotland to get these new jobs that are 
meant to appear. What both actions have in common is supporting big 
corporations in their drive for more profits.

Workers need to take control of the transition, not leave it in the 
hands of corporations and government. But as long as corporations and 
profits are the main aim of the economic system and the government, 
there will be no Just Transition. In fact, there will be the worst of 
both worlds- no serious action against climate change and any 
greenwashing actions will be at the expense of the workers.

There have been some examples of this happening. Back in 1976 workers at 
Lucas Aerospace put forward an alternative plan to weapons production 
and the idea is currently being revived. 1  Workers at the Belfast 
shipyards, threatened with closure, have plans for producing 
infrastructure for renewable energy. In Italy, workers at a closed car 
factory are putting proposals forward for an alternative green 
production plan. 2 We need to overcome the jobs vs environment division. 
Only with a complete change in the system can we deal with climate 
change and social and economic justice issues.
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1  https://lucasplan.co.uk/
2 
https://labourhub.org.uk/2023/12/22/italian-car-workers-fight-for-alternative-green-production-plan/

https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/jackdaw_D.pdf
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