Why Green Jobs Must Be Unionized
New York City construction unions have participated in the creation of more LEED-quality green buildings than any other contracting group.
By Lisa Wright
Flooding. Extreme weather. Poor air quality. Climate change has arrived in New York. Dealing with climate consequences in an urban setting is serious work and New York is investing big in the green economy. In fact, the City of New York released a report in February 2024 estimating that the number of green jobs will more than double by 2040.
Meanwhile, unions have been proactively ensuring green collar workers are protected. Why is that important? Because green economy growth has the power to affect more than just jobs. Let’s look at the surprising ways that green union labor can improve our communities, quality of life, and more.
Training a Nation of Green Collar Workers
Compared to old, fossil fuel infrastructure, green technology is relatively new and working with it requires specialized training. For years, unions have been funding apprenticeship and continuing education programs to help new and existing employees become experts in this field. That means workers can start a prosperous new career without years of college debt.
A union-backed workforce supports safety, too. Thanks to union protections, employees are empowered to blow the whistle on unsafe working conditions.
All of this amounts to more competent employees, safer job sites, and better-quality work overall—which is what you want when you’re spending millions on new infrastructure.
Meanwhile, most non-union workers shouldn’t expect any job training, and won’t experience the same safety protections as union workers do.
Advocating for Environmental Legislation
Unions are helping to shape clean energy laws.
Climate Jobs New York, a coalition of 12 New York state unions, successfully inserted the Renewable Energy Jobs Standard provision in the 2022 New York State budget. This standard requires prevailing wages and project labor agreements for construction on renewable-energy projects of 5 megawatts or more. It also requires certain projects to use American steel and iron, and incentivizes the use of New York State-produced renewable energy equipment and supplies.
Unions also partner with environmental advocacy groups to speak up in support of pro-climate laws.
Think a non-union group would do any of that?
There’s no point in investing in large-scale sustainable projects if they’re not going to be done right. Unions are installing the latest technologies by workers who understand them.
Leading the Technological Revolution
There’s no point in investing in large-scale sustainable projects if they’re not going to be done right. Unions are installing the latest technologies by workers who understand them. And again, when it comes to materials, unions support each other by pushing for the use of high-quality, American-made parts.
These smart infrastructure investments will help New York decrease its carbon footprint and keep us on the cutting edge of leading tech.
Non-union companies may or may not opt for top tech or American materials, but they definitely don’t have the power to advocate for it on a large scale like unions do. Nor are most of their employees trained in the latest green practices and materials, as union members are.
Mark Colangelo is a writer and blogger.
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