Peter Skyte

2. Peter Skyte National Officer Unite peter.skyte@unitetheunion.com

3. “There are three stages to a new idea. At first it is ignored. Second, there is strong opposition against it. Finally, those who once opposed it set about introducing the initiatives themselves as if they’d been theirs all along.” (Arthur Schopenhauer, 19thC German Philosopher)

4. SUSTAINABILITY AND OUTSOURCING • MOOS(E) • (E)mployment - globalisation and the supply chain • (E)nvironment - climate change

5. GLOBAL STANDARDS • ILO Core Labour Standards • No forced labour • No discrimination • No child labour • Freedom of association and collective bargaining • OECD Guidelines on Multinational Companies • BERR contact point • www.csr.gov.uk • UN Global Compact • UK network site at www.ungc-uk.net • Sector Codes of Conduct eg EICC, GeSI • International Framework Agreements

6. SECTOR CODES OF CONDUCT • Electronics Industry Code of Conduct (2004) • HP, Dell, IBM, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Intel, Philips, Sony and 5 Contract Manufacturers (Sanmina-SCI, Jabil, Celestica, Solectron and Flextronics) • Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) • including BT, Ericsson, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Nortel, Nokia, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom and Vodafone • has identified labour issues as a priority for the industry

7. COMMON DEMANDS • Ethical trading • Respect for ILO standards and OECD guidelines • Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining everywhere • Safe and healthy working conditions • Payment of living wages • Compliance on working hours maximum • Security of employment • Responsible sourcing practices • increase order prices to reflect labour costs • evaluate production scheduling and delivery policies • build long-term partnership with suppliers • monitor code implementation • Full transparency • transparency of producers/suppliers in the supply chain, for example by posting the full list of outsourcing suppliers on the company website for public scrutiny. • Brand responsibility for supply chain violations • Environmental standards and sustainability • International Framework Agreements

8. CLIMATE CHANGE – WHY A UNION ISSUE • Half of the energy used is in workplaces or in workplace travel – still increasing by 1% per year • Economic, legal and social pressures • Rise in fuel and material prices – companies will be driven to reduce costs • Protect jobs by reducing energy costs rather than employee costs

9. REDUCTION OF ENERGY COSTS Protect jobs by reducing energy costs rather than employee costs • Heating, cooling, ventilation and insulation (energy for cooling of data centres and server rooms estimated to be up to 15% of the carbon footprint of industrial buildings) • Lighting and electrical equipment (PCs/monitors use half of all office equipment energy in a typical office) • Renewable energy • Travel and transport • Procurement, purchasing and supply • Reduce, reuse and recycle

10. ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS • commitment to employee involvement in environmental matters • agreed objectives eg carbon footprint reduction • Mutual responsibilities in improving environmental performance • Agreed procedures for dealing with issues • Election of union environmental reps • Timeline for reviewing environmental targets and policies • Links with other workplace policies/structures

11. UNITE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A GREENER WORKPLACE • rights for union representatives to gain access to environmental impact information and a statutory duty for employers to report on their carbon footprint, including their supply chain and transport costs. • requirement for employers to report on the environmental impact of relocation to ensure that they are not avoiding robust environmental regulation or labour standards by relocating • reduction of travel to work transport emissions through increasing cycle facilities, providing loans for public transport costs, encouraging car pooling schemes, and allowing workers to be home based for part or all of their working time where appropriate. Flexible working should be a right for all workers, not simply a right to request. • time off and access to learning and education available to all workers to raise awareness and understanding of environmental issues • statutory rights, facilities and recognition for the work of trade union environmental representatives • consultation rights for union representatives on purchasing and supply decisions which can affect the environmental impact of the workplace. • company executives to have their pay and bonuses linked to meeting environmental performance targets • corporate social responsibility to include duties to report on practices throughout the supply chain and to source materials and services from suppliers who adhere to core labour and environmental standards. • Government and industry promotion of cleaner and greener manufacturing and employment in environmental services and technology sectors through increased public funding for research. • positive procurement strategy for government departments embracing environmental responsibility and respecting core labour standards

12. http://www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=8566 http://www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=8566 http://www.amicustheunion.org/Default.aspx?page=8566

13. The outlook is very clear. No employer will make money from a dead planet and no worker will gain from being part of a poisoned population.