Letters from UJAE Members and the AFL-CIO supporting Bingaman-Specter

   Low Carbon Economy Act of 2007

UJAE Members

Letter from the IBEW to Senator Bingaman click here

Letter and press release from the Mine Workers to Senator Bingaman click here

Letter from the Boilermakers to Senator Bingaman click here

AFL-CIO

Letter from AFL-CIO in support of Bingaman-Specter, July 9, 2007 click here

Statement by AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka, July 11 click here

AFL-CIO testimony before Senate EPW by Bob Baugh - includes endorsement

    of Bingaman-Specter, July 24, 2007 click here

Unions endorse Measures in the Bingaman-Specter Climate Proposal

     In May, Bridget Martin, Assistant to Newton Jones, President of the Boilermakers Union, wrote a letter to Senator Bingaman saying the Boilemakers "strongly support the proposal outlined by the draft Bingaman-Specter climate legislation." The letter stressed the importance of the "safety-valve" mechanism and support for incentives to spur clean coal technology. Noting the rapid growth in emissions from China and developing nations, the Boilermakers cautioned that "Our nation must lead, but we must be certain that our trading partners follow."

     The Presidents of the IBEW and Mine Workers sent letters in June to Senator Bingaman endorsing the draft bill developed by him and Senator Specter. Edwin Hill, President of the IBEW wrote that “I appreciate your strong leadership in crafting legislation that addresses global climate change with a reasonable and balanced approach.”

     Cecil Roberts, President of the IBEW, wrote that the United Mine Workers “is pleased to express support for the proposal that you and Senator Specter have developed to provide the basis for national climate change legislation.”

     President Hill praised the bill as “unique amongst all legislative proposals” in that it “offers an effective approach that assures abundant, affordable energy supplies and does not undermine economic growth or diminish good paying jobs for our workers.”

     President Roberts praised the Bingaman-Specter proposal for having “a reasonable safety valve to protect the economy and workers in the event that carbon emission controls exceed expected costs.” Roberts also noted that the bill “Establishes a critical linkage between U.S. climate change actions and those of developing counties.”

Note: UJAE supports the AFL-CIO Executive Council Statements on Climate Policy

For further information email ujae@rcn.com