Tanu Kumar

Blue Collar Goes Green

In 2006, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman coined the phrase "green is the new red, white and blue." Friedman expanded on his clever slogan with an April 2007 cover story in the NY Times Magazine touting the untapped potential for green business in America. In the piece, he posited that ‘green’ ethics, coupled with American ingenuity, smarts and labor, could be the foundation for a resurgent manufacturing sector. He further argued that the government would be wise to institute progressive incentive and benefit programs to stimulate research, nurture business growth, and deflate the high costs of going green.

Outsourcing, income disparity, the working poor and the proliferation of low-paying jobs are all major concerns for Americans, as well as a mainstay of the media and politicians. Arguments that harken back to the glory days of the industrious American middle class are certain to grab attention. Recent focus has been on green collar jobs, in particular those in the areas of alternative and renewable energy technology. Mention of green collar jobs has popped up in recent policy speeches by presidential contenders including John Edwards and Hillary Clinton (who is co-sponsoring a green collar workforce development to the Senate Energy Bill). Representatives in the House have introduced massive legislation allocating millions for national and state initiatives in green collar job training, industry studies and research grants and the Senate has held hearings about the potential for this sector and received testimony from leading advocates like the Apollo Alliance. In the Bay Area, the Ella Baker Center has been driving a campaign to establish ’Green Enterprise Zones.’ These districts would target low-income communities -- areas that were often home to the region's manufacturing firms, and bridge job training, education, business growth and poverty reduction under a green economic development platform. Even organized labor has joined the discussion, as evidenced at a recent Cornell Global Labor Institute conference on climate change and how labor unions and environmental organizations can work towards solutions together.

The New York Industrial Retention Network (NYIRN) has consistently advocated for green manufacturing in New York City. Local green firms reflect changes within the New York City manufacturing sector as a whole, as they adapt and access a new market segment for innovative, green products. They also need the support of local policy makers -- implementation of programs mandating local procurement and sourcing, as well as green tax credits for manufactured products and energy efficient technologies are just two ways in which government can help local businesses gain a competitive, green advantage. The Mayor's PLANYC 2030 incorporates some truly progressive measures regarding solar panels, energy efficiency and tax policy for commercial firms and buildings. Ultimately, the discussion is not solely about green collar jobs, but about creating healthy and sustainable local economies.

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Posted at 12:00 PM, Aug 27, 2007 in Labor
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