Towards an environmental/labor coalition

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980 · Environment; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00139157.1980.9929779· OSTI ID:5191830

Miller, A S

Workers and environmentalists are beginning to perceive that, regardless of their many short-term conflicts, they will need each other in the long run. Labor has traditionally opposed strict environmental standards as a threat to jobs, but evidence is now available that federally mandated pollution control programs will raise overall employment through 1986. Studies also indicate that the inflationary impact of these controls is minimal. Most modern industry is capital-, energy-, and technology-intensive at the expense of human labor. The labor market has been shifting to meet the increased demand for goods and services, making the old formulas for determining how much capital and energy are needed to produce jobs obsolete. The threat of job losses is often blamed on the environmentalists when the real cuprit is corporation failing to protect the health and safety of its workers and the public. Environmentalists need to recognize the inefficiencies of American production methods and address the basic question of who should control America's resources and wealth. A coalition of workers and environmentalists could press for issues of mutual self-interest. (DCK)

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley
• OSTI ID: 5191830
• Journal Information: Environment; (United States), Journal Name: Environment; (United States) Vol. 22:5; ISSN ENVTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
ECONOMIC IMPACT
EMPLOYMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LABOR
LAWS
POLLUTION LAWS
PUBLIC HEALTH
WORKING CONDITIONS