The Obama administration has estimated 5 million jobs (direct and indirect) can be created by a $150 billion, 10-year investment. Green Jobs for America reports that hybrid and other clean cars, public transportation, efficient heating and lighting systems and clean renewable power plants can create more than 1.4 million new jobs.
Investments in improved energy efficiency in buildings could generate an additional 2 million to 3.5 million green jobs in Europe and the United States alone. Clean-tech start-ups alone might generate between 400,000 jobs and 500,000 jobs in coming years.
Another key area for green job growth is the renewable energy sector. Investment in renewable energy is booming, surging from $10 billion in 1998 to at least $66 billion in 2007, equivalent to 18 per cent of all energy investment. It is expected to reach $343 billion in 2020 and to almost double again by 2030 to $630 billion.
There are important standards that should be considered to be part of any jobs stimulus package. Examples include:
- Neutrality in any union organizing campaign.
- Comprehensive Davis-Bacon prevailing wage coverage applied to all facets of federal construction assistance.
- Bona fide apprenticeship programs with a record of compliance with apprenticeship hiring requirements.
- Joint labor-management partnerships.
- Health and retirement benefits.
- Employer-based training, including on-the-job training and skill upgrading.
- A record of compliance with federal laws including prevailing wage laws, OSHA, anti-discrimination/harassment and environmental.
- Compliance by subcontractors.
Training for Green Jobs/Labor Management Partnerships
The Green Jobs Act was enacted as a part of Public Law 110-140. This new program
includes important protections to ensure the training programs funded under the law include the participation of workers and employers while providing flexibility to bring community and public interest groups into training programs. The linkage to labor-management partnerships and apprenticeship is important for quality training and access to career ladder occupations. Any training funding should be linked to the language in this statute.
Domestic Investment/Buying American Requirement
To ensure the economic recovery legislation achieves maximum domestic investment of the resources invested, existing statues need to be strengthened.
- Expand the “Buy America” product coverage and content. ‘Buy America” is a separate statute from the Buy American Act of 1933. “Buy America” coverage ensures funds to carry out the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 will use steel, iron, and manufactured products (using iron and steel) produced in the United States. It also applies to federal funds given to states for mass transit projects. Because “Buy America” is exempt from the Trade Agreements Act and the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Government Procurement, Congress has broad flexibility to strengthen “Buy America” requirements to create U.S. jobs. Among the ways this can be done is by tightening domestic content thresholds, limiting available waivers, and expanding product coverage beyond iron and steel components to other products such as machinery, textiles, and additional raw materials.
- Strengthen the Buy America, Buy American and other related statute. These can be strengthened by 1) Ensuring that all agencies (such as the Department of Energy) and funding come under these provisions and 2) that direct funding provided to states and local governments also must be covered by these provisions.
Find Out More:
- -including 79 percent of Republicans.
- a Machinists fact sheet on Buy America.
- Find out what the Steelworkers are doing about Buy America.
E-Mail This Page
Support the Employee Free Choice Act.
