Labor-Environmental Partnership Demonstrates Broad Union Support for Comprehensive Clean Energy and Climate Change Legislation, Calls on President and the Senate to Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 18, 2010) The BlueGreen Alliance today highlighted nearly 400 resolutions from local unions and members around the country urging action on comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation aimed at creating millions of clean energy jobs while reducing our dependence on foreign oil and protecting our environment for generations to come.

Read the resolution.

The resolutions, from states including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, and Indiana, called on Senators to "champion immediately passage of a strong comprehensive climate change and clean energy jobs bill that will create thousands of jobs for ... workers, address regional disparities and international competitiveness issues to ensure fairness, protect our environment, and make America more energy independent."

"American workers know that passing comprehensive climate change and clean energy legislation is what our country needs to create millions of good jobs and revitalize our manufacturing sector," said James Winship, President of IUE-CWA Local 755, who builds hybrid car batteries in Dayton, Ohio. "The President needs to lead, and the Senate needs to act now. We can't afford to standby while the rest of the world moves ahead of us in the race to develop and create the energy solutions of the future."

The BlueGreen Alliance joined progressive and environmental organizations for an event at the National Press Club calling on President Obama to show bold leadership on clean energy and climate solutions.

"We will work with the U.S. Senate to achieve strong comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation that will create millions of good-paying clean energy jobs - putting people back to work manufacturing the parts for clean energy, weatherizing our homes and retrofitting our buildings, building and operating transit and freight rail, and maintaining energy-efficient buildings across the country," said David Foster, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance. "But we need the President's leadership to move us down the path to this clean energy economy now."

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national partnership of labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the clean energy economy. Launched by the United Steelworkers and Sierra Club in 2006, the BlueGreen Alliance now includes the Communications Workers of America, Natural Resources Defense Council, Laborers' International Union of North America, Service Employees International Union, Utility Workers Union of America, American Federation of Teachers, Amalgamated Transit Union, and the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association.