Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast Episodes
Policy Whiplash: Checking In With Labor Unions
The past few years have seen a seismic shift in energy and industrial policy in the United States. Under Biden, laws like the Inflation Reduction Act led to money pouring into clean energy manufacturing and deployment. The Trump administration has reversed course, cutting off incentives in instituting massive tariffs.
As a result, entire clean energy projects have been put on hold or even canceled. Workers who were counting on those projects now face an uncertain future. This situation forces tough questions for unions: Where do they go from here?
Guests:
Roxanne Brown, Vice President at Large, United Steelworkers
Lee Anderson, Director of Governmental Affairs, Utility Workers Union of America
Lara Skinner, Executive Director, Climate Jobs Institute, Cornell University
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Intro
3:46 Roxanne Brown on the origins of USW’s environmental advocacy
5:50 Roxanne Brown on the effects of climate workers are feeling today
14:25 Roxanne Brown on how energy policy has affected USW members
18:45 Roxanne Brown on climate messaging within USW
24:16 Lee Anderson on the jobs of utility workers
25:41 Lee Anderson on how climate has affected the safety of workers
30:54 Lee Anderson on UWUA’s input on current federal policy
40:15 Lara Skinner on what sparked a worker centered agenda on climate policy
42:36 Lara Skinner on the ups and downs of Climate Jobs New York’s work
48:57 Lara Skinner on creating state based coalitions
For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org.
***
Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.
Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published on 2 weeks, 5 days ago