The ITF ran a one-day workshop on mobilising responses to climate change for IFWEA (International Federation of Workers’ Education Association) affiliates during their 21st conference in Cape Town on 29 November 2011. Over 80 people attended. The main outcome from the workshop was a proposal for the development of educational materials on climate change that will form part of IFWEA’s new online academy for labour educators.

The seminar was opened with songs from the Sikula Sonke choir, who are a women workers’ trade union from the winelands near Cape Town. Sandra Van Niekerk, a freelance labour educator/researcher from Cape Town co-facilitated the workshop with Alana Dave, ITF Education Officer.

Shared experiences of current work affiliates are doing on climate change helped to open the workshop. Activities included awareness raising, developing materials, publications and education on climate change, as well as practical action such as reforestation projects, promoting the use of organic fertiliser and pesticides, and negotiating a clause in collective agreements on climate change. For example, SEWA India have worked to gain recognition for informal workers who contribute to climate change mitigation, such as recyclers and waste pickers. Affiliates found that working on climate change has helped them to involve young workers who have not previously been active in the organisations. It was agreed that a key role for IFWEA would be to share learning between affiliates. 

Following an introduction to climate change from Michelle Pressend from LRS (Labour Research Service) the participants split into groups to discuss approaches and practices in education and how to develop a curriculum on climate change for trade unions, communities and adult learners, which looked at potential audiences, key issues and topics and educational methodologies. From the group reports, the following common proposals emerged:

• A strong proposal for training of trainers programme, which would include general education on climate change, develop an understanding of alternatives and suggest proposals for collective action. Educational materials should be relevant to workers both in the workplace and community.
• Develop and disseminate education material on climate change through the new IFWEA online academy, including ways to share learning and case studies.
• Integrate climate change work into other areas, such as health and safety, as well as through the decision-making bodies within IFWEA affiliates,
• Build a network to continue the exchange and development of ideas on climate change education (through the online academy).

You can read the full IFWEA report of the seminar here.