Major Group: Workers & Trade
Statement by the Workers? and Trade Unions Major Group
Wednesday, February 28, 2007 ? Morning Session
Session: Policy options and possible actions to expedite implementation: Air
pollution/atmosphere
Chair,
Trade Unions welcome the clear link between air pollution and public and occupational health
stated in the SG report.
Trade Unions also support its call for investment in the introduction, upgrading and expansion
of affordable and efficient public transportation systems.
In addition, I would like to promote a policy option related to the need for integrated mobility
strategies.
Trips to the workplace represent one third of the overall mobility demand. 80% of workers get
to work mainly by motor vehicles, 61% of which are single-occupant vehicles.
To encourage sustainability, the involvement of enterprises is highly needed, by setting
policies promoting further use of public transportation and easing the use by workers of less
polluting means of transportation.
These measures need to be negotiated with the workers? representatives.
Trade Unions already began to organize information campaigns, awareness raising and
training activities, in order to encourage change in workers? behaviour. These ?mobility plans?
had already been put in place in several workplaces in Spain, Belgium, Italy, UK and the US,
and are detailed in a recent publication by ISTAS on good practices related to sustainable
mobility at the workplace, that will be soon included in the Matrix.
Thank you, Chair.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007 ? Morning Session
Session: Policy options and possible actions to expedite implementation: Air
pollution/atmosphere
Chair,
Trade Unions welcome the clear link between air pollution and public and occupational health
stated in the SG report.
Trade Unions also support its call for investment in the introduction, upgrading and expansion
of affordable and efficient public transportation systems.
In addition, I would like to promote a policy option related to the need for integrated mobility
strategies.
Trips to the workplace represent one third of the overall mobility demand. 80% of workers get
to work mainly by motor vehicles, 61% of which are single-occupant vehicles.
To encourage sustainability, the involvement of enterprises is highly needed, by setting
policies promoting further use of public transportation and easing the use by workers of less
polluting means of transportation.
These measures need to be negotiated with the workers? representatives.
Trade Unions already began to organize information campaigns, awareness raising and
training activities, in order to encourage change in workers? behaviour. These ?mobility plans?
had already been put in place in several workplaces in Spain, Belgium, Italy, UK and the US,
and are detailed in a recent publication by ISTAS on good practices related to sustainable
mobility at the workplace, that will be soon included in the Matrix.
Thank you, Chair.