Bargaining for greener workplaces

Introducing the afternoon of talks and workshops, PCS Assistant General Secretary John Moloney said: “The key thing from today’s meeting is that we build a green network that lasts. PCS has really good environment policies but there can be a disconnect between those and what are live issue for members. We all want to see green issues as a core part of branch life and work, treating them as straightforward industrial issues.

“Until recently, the UK political consensus was that simply that climate change is real and caused by carbon emissions, and that net zero is good. Now we have a situation where Nigel Farage avoids giving straight answers on what causes climate change or whether climate change is real while Tories are now tracking in that direction and have dropped their net zero target.

“So, as trade unionists, we must tap into people’s own experiences and give them hope. What can we do? Be present and visible in workplaces, make the arguments to members and get green issues onto our bargaining agenda.”

Employer accountability

Hannah David, chair of PCS South West Regional Committee, culture group president and a rep at Historic England added: “PCS has long recognised that climate change is a trade union issue. It impacts how we work and the type of work we do. It’s not a single or silo issue. It’s connected to social, economic, environmental, and political justice, as well as the need to understand our workplaces within this.

“How do we aim to do this? If we can get green reps in every branch and group, then we can hold the employer to account on their own sustainability as well as establish green bargaining rights at both national and workplace levels. We want to see all workplace policies climate proofed. We want to develop our own solutions to tackling the climate emergency. And we want statutory rights for workplace environmental reps. 

“As we do this, we must recognise the historical contribution countries like the UK have made to climate change. And we must work with allies across the labour, climate, and environmental movements to build our collective strength for the future the whole world needs.”

Worker-led transition

The Worker-Climate Project is a volunteer-led project supporting trade unionists organising for a just transition. Executive committee member Jamie Sims spoke to attendees about why climate action needs to be worker-led. 

Climate change affects everyone, but it affects workers most; it should not be led by profiteers; worker action is effective because collective; and workers actually have the specialist knowledge, not necessarily bosses and governments. Jamie said: “There’s no silver bullet. What’s important is for people in workplaces to go and try things.”

Green reps: getting started

PCS member Athene Dilke is currently a Defra branch green officer and committee member, and chairs the PCS Defra environmental action group. She gave a civil service perspective on being a green rep, building strategy, avoiding burnout and getting green claims onto the agenda. Athene said: “You can get very involved very quickly. You don’t need to have special skills or be to be an expert; you learn by working on things. What green issues matter in your workplace. How did the recent heatwave affect you? It’s a green issue but it’s a bread-and-butter union issue cause it’s a health and safety issue. Employers must recognise that we are already living in a changed climate.”

You can read more of her presentation in her blog. 

Your workplace, your planet

Mike Hines, a trade union education tutor and activist, gave a workshop on mainstreaming green issues. He explained that organising is often done on the lines of asking how deeply and widely felt is an issue and how winnable is it. However, with green issues, we are looking at culture change and must get people angry as well as offering them hope. Mike said: “With green bargaining it’s back to basics: it’s an issue, we organise, we win.”

More information

• Watch some reactions from the event on the PCS YouTube channel
• A model climate motion for branches and trades councils is available from The Worker-Climate Project 
• The project is also running a troubleshooting workshop in 17 September 2026 for anyone working for climate justice in their workplace
• PCS climate justice materials are all in one place on PCS Digital
• A toolkit titled ‘Greener workplaces for a Just Transition’ is available from the TUC