Working Families Chapter Meeting

November 4th, 6 PM
UAW Region 9, 35 George Karl Dr. (Werhle near Transit)
Amherst, NY
Food and beverages will be provided.

Agenda:
- Issue Committee Reports (safe staffing, marijuana
legalization hearing, geo-thermal campaign)
- Election results
Forum on Greenhouse Gas/Renewable Energy Initiatives
--"Rise Up for Climate Justice" campaign (re. UN climate change talks in Paris in
November)
--NYS Legislative Initiative to address climate change
We will hear about the climate justice campaign: a brief power point presentation on
the climate crisis and a report from a law professor and students who will be delivering,
to the US negotiators at the UN climate change talks in Paris, signed pledges from
WNY unions, faith-based/environmental and community organization calling on
the President and world leaders to set greenhouse gas standards that will ensure a
safe and healthy environment for our children and future generations.
Finally, Bill Nowak and Roger Cook will give a short presentation on a statewide
coalition that includes the WFP and Labor and its allies who are crafting legislation that
will set a clear timeline to move us to a clean energy economy while ensuring a just
transition, good jobs, training, and community benefits. We welcome our
environmental and other friends as well as our elected officials to join in a
discussion of this important issue.
The effort brings together stakeholders from around the state to discuss how the
transition to a clean energy economy should be shaped. Working Families position is
that labor and it's allies should be leading the charge to protect our communities from
climate change, ensure that workers' needs are met, and that good jobs and healthy
communities are being created. The coalition's agenda has four key components setting a clear mandate and timeline to move us to a clean and equitable
energy economy, ensure accountability (benchmarks for efficiency and
renewable energy, and a private right of action), mandate good jobs with
wage standards training and community benefits, and strong equity and transition
elements to ensure that all communities benefit.