Australian unions have had a long history of supporting environmental issues.

Back in the 1970s, the NSW Builders Labourers Federation carried out the first ever “green bans,” with members refusing to contribute labour to the development of parkland, low-income housing and heritage buildings.

Their actions supported the existing campaigns of local residents’ groups and were highly effective in protecting these socially and environmentally important sites.

These green bans were the first time the word green had been used to refer to environmental action.

At the time of the bans, German politician Petra Kelly visited New South Wales and was impressed with the effectiveness of the movement. She brought back the idea of green bans, and the terminology of green to refer to environmentalism, and formed the world’s first Greens Party – the German Green Party.

The green bans, which ran for just a few years, have had a lasting impact on both a national and international level.

The SSTUWA is committed to becoming a more sustainable union in all areas of operation. For example, Western Teacher is printed on recyclable paper, with a compostable wrapper, and printed by a local company to reduce transportation emissions.

Plus, if you’d rather read online, you can opt out of receiving a printed copy by scanning the QR code on the right.

Many of our other publications, such as Know Your Rights sheets and membership cards, have been moved online and onto the SSTUWA app.

Hybrid vehicles and solar panels help keep our operational emissions low. And by the end of 2023, your union will have fully divested from all direct fossil fuel investments.

Is taking action on the climate crisis important to you? The Climate Action Working Group is made up of a number of engaged SSTUWA members who are passionate about taking action on the climate emergency.

The group meets termly, in person and via Zoom, to discuss operational, industrial and curriculum aspects of climate action.

The group plans and implements top-down and bottom-up actions to further the principles of education for sustainability within TAFEs and Department of Education schools, and acts as a conduit between the SSTUWA and TAFEs, schools and networks.

If you are interested in being part of the Climate Action Working Group, we’d love to have you join us. To express interest in joining the group, email
snagar@sstuwa.org.au for more information.

To learn more about the work your union is undertaking to address the climate emergency, visit our climate action hub here.