Electricians are the green future’s jobs—BWI

The Global Power Trade Unions (GPTU) recently held an international conference in Vancouver, Canada, bringing together electrician and elevator trade unionists from around the world, including those from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the United States, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, and Mexico. The event, hosted by the International Union of Elevator Contractors (IUEC) and led by its President, Frank Christensen, addressed the major issues and concerns of electrician workers, including new ways to organise and raise awareness, workers' capital, vocational training, workplace health and safety, labour rights, climate change, solidarity to Ukrainian workers and the role of women and youth in the green transition.

The Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) was represented in the global event by its General Secretary, Ambet Yuson. He praised Christensen for hosting the event well and emphasized the importance of elevators and electricians in the just transition to a greener future. "Electricians are the future's jobs." They will play an important and distinct role in the green transition. As retrofitting becomes an essential component of our climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, more qualified professionals, such as electricians, are needed in a variety of green construction projects,” according to Yuson.

BWI also stressed the importance of pushing for the implementation in the workplaces of the workers’ fundamental right to occupational health and safety. The 12 million-strong global union invited the GPTU to join its soon to be launched “Heat Up Workers’ Rights, not the Planet” campaign to persuade the United Nations to protect COP 28 workers in Dubai from extreme heat stress. “At the end of the day, workplace health and safety is a must. Workers are greatly impacted by climate-related risks and extreme weather events. We must address the climate crisis’ impact on workers’ physical and mental health and promote safe and healthy working environments,” Yuson said. 

International Energy Agency models that the shift to zero emissions-industry solutions will drive 16 million jobs in the energy sector, a 40 percent expansion in the workforce globally. According to Rewiring America, the United States will need one million more electricians over the next 10 years as retrofitting takes off. It also estimated that Portugal will require an 80,000 additional skilled workers for green construction projects, such as carpenters, electricians, and supervisors.

The GPTU conference concluded with the adoption of several resolutions including a call for a just transition of workers in emission-intensive workplaces to green, low-to zero emission industries, and an expression of solidarity with the Ukrainian working people. The GPTU committed to help in Ukraine’s post-war construction and requested that communications with Ukrainian unions are strengthened. 

The next GPTU conference will be held in Sweden in 2024.