TUCAN (Trade Union Clean Air Network) Newsletter, Issue 4, May 2022 – “Get Active on Clean Air Day 2022”

TUCAN (Trade Union Clean Air Network) Newsletter, Issue 4, May 2022 – “Get Active on Clean Air Day 2022”

The Trade Union Clean Air Network (TUCAN) was set up in 2019 by the Hazards Campaign, Greener Jobs Alliance (GLA) with a coalition of trade unions and occupational health and safety activists.

LTB Numbers 035/19 and 436/19 reported on the launch of the TUCAN, working with (GJA) to generate worker/trade union awareness and for the trade union voice to be prominent in the public debate on the issue of air pollution, waste, the environment and climate change.

TUCAN joined the fight against air pollution and occupational health damage as concerns continue to grow. Much air pollution is caused by industry and work-related activities. Climate change and damage to the environment are direct consequences. There is rightly a growing public concern about air pollution which some see as a public health emergency. 36,000 deaths a year are caused by air pollution, according to a government report. Outdoor workers have been ignored for too long as the pollution crisis deepens. Government strategy has however failed to prioritise the vital measures required to effectively address the problem.

Emerging from the Covid pandemic, TUCAN is ready for a relaunch of activities and campaigning and are keen to involve trade unionists in the discussion about their strategy and priorities. TUCAN’s primary concern is for workers and how they are impacted by air pollution and how workplaces are contributing to pollution and the climate crisis.

‘TUCAN developed a ‘Charter’ providing a set of demands for unions to prioritise in campaigns at local, regional, national and international level. TUCAN also developed – ‘Guidance on Air Pollution for Union Reps’, a pollution checklist for health, safety and environment reps and the ‘TUCAN Charter’ promoting best practice and to raise awareness. Full details of the Charter are contained in the attached TUCAN Newsletter. In summary the Charter is as follows;

The ‘TUCAN Charter’:

Introduce a new Clean Air Act that enshrines the right to breathe clean air.
Update Health and Safety Law (such as COSHH).
Ensure effective enforcement.
Involve the workforce.
Protect jobs.
Rapidly expand clean and inexpensive public transport systems alongside investment in active transport to increase levels of cycling and walking.

Please find attached a copy of the TUCAN Newsletter, Issue 4, May 2022 – which has the headline “Get Active on Clean Air Day 16 June 2022”. This latest edition of the TUCAN Newsletter covers the following subjects and articles and the headline focus is on the forthcoming ‘Clean Air Day 2022.

Contents:

Get active on Clean Air Day – 16 June
About TUCAN – Get involved
Air quality monitoring available for your workplace
On line air pollution resource
Government consultation on environmental targets extended
Unbreathable – the fight for healthy air

Further Information:

If you would like further information about TUCAN then please contact Janet at Hazards (email: janet@gmhazards.org.uk) or Graham at the Greener Jobs Alliance (email: gjacoms@gmail.com).

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