SEIU Joins International Union And Environmental Allies To Advocate For Environmental Justice

Washington, DC— SEIU Executive Vice President Gerry Hudson will travel to Bali, Indonesia, December 6th - 11th as part of the first-ever U.S. labor delegation to participate in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Hudson, who will be joined by SEIU Director of Occupational Health & Safety Bill Borwegen, will call for bold and swift action to mitigate the disproportionate impacts of climate change on low-income communities, and advocate a dual commitment to the environment and society.

Hudson today issued the following statement of purpose:

“The accumulated scientific evidence leaves no doubt that climate change is an imminent threat that requires immediate, collective and decisive action at the global level. This ongoing environmental crisis will affect millions of workers’ communities and workplaces for generations to come.

“As a union that represents 1.9 million workers—many of whom are in low-income industries—SEIU is particularly concerned about the needs of low-income workers. While everyone will experience the negative impacts of climate change, the most vulnerable will experience them disproportionately. Low-income communities already suffer disproportionately from placement of landfills and power plants and their related health hazards. When changes in consumption are required, it is poor consumers who are hit the hardest by higher prices for essential services such as electricity or fuel.

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