Organising case study - Southern Cross University Bargaining and Organising around Green Issues

Organising case study – Southern Cross University

Bargaining and Organising around Green Issues
In 2009 the NSW Public Service Association (CPSU) worked with members and activists at
Southern Cross University to develop support for an environmental sustainability claim as part
of their bargaining.

Southern Cross University has already had some runs on the board in terms of moving to an
environmentally sustainable workplace, having set up an online car pooling system across the
campus.

Environment sustainability and bargaining – what’s possible?
The Union first identified environmental sustainability (ES) as a key claim via face to face focus
groups with members. The environmental sustainability claim was then developed by activists,
who began by documenting and analysing a best practice environmental sustainability
employer. Organisers and activists then discussed what sustainability means in an industrial
instrument – what kinds of provisions would be legal and enforceable, and what a claim might
look like.

They considered the key areas they would need to look at – for them, these were transport,
infrastructure, operations, training, and employer as environmental citizen. This was an
important exercise in breaking down “environmental sustainability” and getting a handle on
what they could realistically achieve.

This meant being clear about what couldn’t be dealt with and finding ways around that. Some
matters were included in a consultation clause, giving members clear input into those things
which would fall into policy rather than the agreement itself.

Building support – conversations, petitions, forum
From there, activists mapped out a campaign to develop support. Some of the key elements of
that campaign were:
    • Activists went desk-to-desk encouraging staff to sign an “Environmental Sustainability @
       Work Pledge” supporting the environmental sustainability claim. This enabled activists
       to have 1:1 conversations about the claim and about the union role in negotiating
       around an environmentally sustainable workplace.
    • Staff were invited to a “Low Carbon Workplace” forum held on campus, which included
       speakers from the local climate action network. This was crucial in educating staff about
       the claim.
    • Activists were equipped with a kit including information about the claim, a copy of the
       claim itself, and a recruitment framework.

Such activities combined to lift the union’s profile across the workplace, and to show the union
working in a progressive new area. Activities also became recruitment opportunities that led to
union growth.

In principle agreement reached
The campaign led to in-principle agreement being reached for:
    • Environmental Sustainability Working Party to drive activity
    • Reducing carbon emissions through flexible travel and car-pooling
    • Comprehensive training and education for staff on energy efficiency, transport, waste
        and water use
    • Whistle blower protection

Discussion starters
    1.     A critical part of the campaign was in talking with activists and members about why
           union members should be involved in campaigns around environmental issues. This
           meant having direct conversations and walking people through why workers need to
           be active, and dealing with some of the objections raised to union involvement in
           this area.
               • What role do you think workers and their unions can play in building
                   environmentally sustainable workplaces?
               • What objections do you think workers might have to union involvement?
               • How would you structure a conversation with a delegate or member about an
                   environmental sustainability claim?

   2.      In this case, activists listed 6 key areas to consider in relation to environmental
           sustainability in their workplace. What would be the key areas relevant to your
           workplace or industry?

Media Release
                                               160 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW
                                               Phone (02) 9290 1555 Fax (02) 9262 1623
                                               State Branch Secretary: John Cahill State Branch President: Sue Walsh

24 July 2009

Southern Cross University Reaches Landmark Environmental Sustainability
Agreement

Southern Cross University Staff today applauded the reaching of a landmark Environmental
Sustainability agreement. The in principle agreement, reached between Southern Cross
University and the Community and Public Sector Union on behalf of University General
Staff, will be incorporated into the new Enterprise Agreement that is currently under
negotiation.

The Agreement, the most comprehensive and enforceable provision so far negotiated in
Australia, provides for:
   • A broad Environmental Sustainability Working Party to drive policy development,
        environmental auditing and target setting on carbon emissions, water and energy
   • Reducing carbon emissions through flexible travel and car-pooling
   • Comprehensive training and education for staff on energy efficiency, transport,
        waste and water use
   • Protection for staff to raise environmentally damaging practices

Community and Public Sector Union Southern Cross University President Ms Toni
Ledgerwood said “Environmental sustainability was a key claim raised by Union members in
the lead up to negotiating a new Enterprise Agreement at SCU. The CPSU welcomes the
positive University response to the eagerness of staff to tackle the urgent danger of global
warming.”

Ms Ledgerwood added “The CPSU held a “Low Carbon Workplace” forum in July and has
circulated an Environmental Sustainability Pledge for staff to sign and show their support for
decisive action on climate change. The in principle Environmental Sustainability agreement
between the Union and SCU is the start of the whole University community working
together. We are proud to be working at a University providing national leadership on the
issue that will dominate our future as well as our children’s.”

For interviews contact CPSU SCU Branch President, Toni Ledgerwood, 6620 3883 or 0437
134 260 or CPSU Campaign Organiser, Matthew Henderson, 0438 485 535.

CPSU Forum:
                      “The Low Carbon Workplace”
One of the key claims for CPSU members in this round of enterprise bargaining is environmental sustainability
and productivity at work.

71% of carbon emissions in Australia are generated at work. SCU is one of the biggest employers in the northern
rivers region and must play a leading role with actions to address climate change.

                             We can make a difference at work
The Equal Opportunity Commission in Victoria reduced power consumption by 6% simply by switching computers
off at night.

Queensland University of Technology reduced water consumption by half from 400,000 KL/yr to 180,000 KL/yr
through water saving devices, better control & measurement systems and 312,000 KL worth of water tanks.

CPSU members are negotiating for:

       1. the right to be informed and participate in decision making regarding the environmental
               sustainability of our workplace;
       2. provisions that promote environmentally sustainable transport for work;
       3. flexible working arrangements that increase productivity and reduce pollution;
       4. our rights at work to report pollution and unsustainable practices; &
       5. environmental sustainability staff training and development.

                              Find out more at the CPSU Forum
   Speakers: Dr Mark Byrne - Environmental Defenders Office (Northern Rivers)
                                      &
             Northern Rivers Climate Change Collaboration (NR3C)
                        When: Wed 1 July 2009 1-2pm
                Where: Lecture Theatre U2 31 (Lismore Campus)

                                            CPSU SCU Branch Delegates
President                                 Assistant Secretary                     Vice-President
Toni Ledgerwood 6620 3883                 Peter Corr 6626 9352                    Shelley Odewahn 6620 3968
toni.ledgerwood@scu.edu.au                peter.corr@scu.edu.au                   shelley.odewahn@scu.edu.au

Womens’ Officer                           Delegate                                Delegate
Margot Howard 6620 3603                   Nigel Stops                             Jackie Chalmers 6626 9424
margot.howard@scu.edu.au                  nigel.stops@scu.edu.au                  jackie.chalmers@scu.edu.au

                                  Have Your Say at Work for a Sustainable Future
                    Join The General Staff Union, talk to colleagues about the CPSU log of claims,
                   become a work unit contact with the CPSU Campaign Team (contact a delegate)
                              Join the CPSU @ www.thegeneralstaffunion.org.au

CPSU ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILTY @ WORK PLEDGE

    We Pledge Support for an Environmentally
            Sustainable Workplace
    I support the CPSU EB claim for:

       1. The right to be informed and participate in decision making regarding the
          environmental sustainability of our workplace

       2. Provisions that promote environmentally sustainable transport for work

       3. Flexible working arrangements that increase productivity and reduce pollution

       4. Our rights at work to report pollution and unsustainable practices

       5. Environmental sustainability staff training and development
    I commit to working with my colleagues and union to reduce SCU’s carbon footprint:

               Name                        Unit/Faculty                       Signature

    Once complete return by internal mail to CPSU SCU Branch President Toni Ledgerwood, Flexible
    Learning, R Block, Lismore Campus by 5 July 2009.