Joe Biden’s latest climate change and clean energy plan mentions the word union more than the climate itself.
Because it is important: Wind and solar energy They have grown tremendously across the United States in the past decade, but associated union jobs have not. The alleged Democratic presidential candidate is trying to change that, which politicians and others say is key to tackling climate change.
What they are saying “There is a halo effect that belongs to the clean energy industry regarding how those industries treat workers,” said Jason Walsh, executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance, a group supported by unions and environmental groups.
- But like other industries, he said: “Under our current labor law regime, companies are actively discouraging and, in some cases, actively blocking their workers’ organizing ability, including firing them. “
The panorama: Biden has always had a closer relationship with unions, considered one of the Democratic Party’s most important political groups, than some of its more progressive counterparts. Now, the pandemic and the resulting economic downturn are catapulting workers’ rights and equity to the forefront of all debates, including energy and climate change.
Where is it located: Biden’s expanded plan on those issues released last week calls for radical changes to labor laws, along with aggressive targets for the fossil fuel transition.
- Workers who build clean energy infrastructure “should have the option to join a union and bargain collectively,” the plan states.
- The plan supports legislation that makes collective bargaining easier for workers. Biden’s plan would go further and would consider executives “personally responsible” if they interfere.
- The plan also supports a bill by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) That would provide greater tax incentives for clean energy companies that meet stricter labor standards.
By the numbers: Union presence is “an important factor” in job quality, said Phil Jordan, vice president of BW Research, which produced an annual report on energy jobs on behalf of the Energy Futures Initiative, a group of experts led by the former Secretary of Ernest Moniz energy.
- Wind and solar energy jobs are between 4% and 6% unionized. That’s on par with the national average for all jobs, but much lower than the share of union jobs in other energy sectors.
- The natural gas, nuclear and coal plants are between 10-12% unionized.
- Transport, distribution and storage jobs, found mainly in the fossil fuel sectors, have the highest proportion of union jobs at 17%.
- Salaries vary widely depending on specific job in any given sector, but solar and wind jobs have lower average wages compared to their counterparts in oil and gas and nuclear plants, according to Labor Department statistics.
Yes, but: The factors inherent in renewables will make it harder for Biden to deliver on his job promises and use fewer fossil fuels, according to renewable energy sector officials, different unions and experts involved in both.
- There are fewer long-term jobs to operate and maintain wind and solar installations compared to other energy sources.
- There are more jobs to support oil and gas production (such as pipeline and refinery construction) compared to wind and solar power, and these are highly unionized.
- Construction and installation jobs, which are more common in wind and solar power, are less unionized.
“We agree that in the coming decades we will make more of a transition” to renewable energy, said Sean McGarvey, president of the North American construction unions.. “But we can’t transition to careers where they get a 50-75% pay cut.”
The intrigue: Some advocates of renewable energy agree. “Where we are now is not good enough,” Merkley told Axios in an interview last week.
- His bill offers incentives for stronger labor standards rather than sanctions because he thinks that is more politically feasible: “I am not trying to create a war between unions and renewable energy. I’m trying to get them together. “
The other side: Renewable energy officials say the issue is increasingly on their radar, but argue that Your sector already creates quality jobs.
- “Solar workers have well-paying jobs and a safe work environment,” said Erin Duncan, vice president of congressional affairs for the Association of Solar Energy Industries. “We appreciate conversations with policy makers on both sides and our friends in the labor movement about political options.”
The bottom line: Merkley says that higher-quality renewable energy jobs will ultimately make it easier to tackle climate change. “The speed with which we can make the transition will be profoundly affected if those who have well-paying jobs in the fossil fuel world hate the idea of the transition to renewable energy.”
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