This text is part of the special section Unionism
A few days before COP28, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates starting Thursday, the secretary general of the FTQ, Denis Bolduc, discusses the good ecological resolutions of his union.
“There really is an effort to be made to make our economy less polluting and ideas can come from all sides,” says Denis Bolduc, with one foot in public sector negotiations and the other on the plane to Dubai. The trade unionist will represent the Quebec Federation of Workers (FTQ) during the environmental high mass organized by the United Nations starting November 30. A move that is less than carbon neutral, but a necessary evil to advance the ecological transition here.
“We are doing our part to put pressure on things to change. Our presence at the COP is part of this, explains Mr. Bolduc. In this highly publicized international context, we get better attention from government representatives. For us, it’s a great platform. » A beautiful platform for beautiful words? Not necessarily. Moreover, the FTQ is taking advantage of the COP to take concrete action in favor of change with a fund whose sole purpose is to provide the means for a union delegate from a southern country to participate in the COP. And this year, it is a Moroccan representative who benefits. “It’s not much,” the general secretary modestly concedes, “it’s a small contribution to help the union movements participate fully. »
Act locally
This participation, although major, remains ephemeral and will end on December 12. Mr. Bolduc will then return to his field and resume the work carried out throughout the year. “What we are looking for is first of all that the voice of workers is heard, in accordance with the concept of just transition,” he recalls. We want to be involved in decisions and work to preserve and improve working conditions, but also to encourage companies to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to become greener and more sustainable. »
To do this, the FTQ created just transition laboratories to support businesses in their thinking about adapting to a green economy. And companies seem receptive to the support offered since the union already collaborates with Énergir, the City of Montreal, the Steelworkers, entities in the plastics, cement, aeronautics sectors, and intends to collaborate with pharmaceuticals. A beautiful picture which allows him to bring back the debate of the just transition within companies. “Locally, we need to have a discussion with workers to find out what becoming greener entails, how to get through that while trying to maintain jobs. There is no one better placed than the people on the ground to know what will work and what will not and why. »
Transport of course occupies a central place in these discussions with businesses. It constitutes one of the two most polluting sectors in Quebec, with industry. Together, they represent nearly 75% of the province’s GHGs. Hence the need to set up a working group focused on public transportation. “The government must promote public transport and improve the transport offer. We must encourage workers to opt for public transport,” insists Denis Bolduc. And there is much to be done in this area. The unionist bases this on simple reasoning: if the person who usually takes their car to go to work has to take two buses and a train to make the same journey, they will never take public transport.
Lead by example
In this fight, preaching the good word is not enough. As a union, the FTQ must set a good example. This is why the center adopted resolutions to offset its GHG emissions during its conferences, in particular by planting trees in proportion to the CO equivalent.2 of these gatherings, by recycling more and more and printing less and less. “There is also a process underway to compost, but it is more complicated to put in place,” explains the union leader.
And the black beast on wheels in all this? “I am currently thinking about finding a solution regarding the use of the car by FTQ employees as part of their duties to reduce its use and therefore our carbon footprint,” he explains. We must be consistent with what we ask. It’s not huge, but we also generate GHGs and therefore, we have an impact to reduce. »
What is the “just transition”?
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