Unite and BWI explore sustainable skills

Unite the Union, in partnership with the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and supported by the C40 Cities VISIBLE project, concluded a learning tour focused on modern methods of construction and workforce integration within the green economy on 2nd and 3rd September, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. 

The event brought together various stakeholders, including city officials, union representatives, apprentices, and experts in sustainable construction.

The tour showcased the Glasgow model of public-private collaboration in the construction industry, with a strong emphasis on worker training, safety, and long-term job security. 

Participants visited the City Building Glasgow (CBG), a major construction company known for its innovative approaches to energy-efficient housing and retrofitting. They explored the RSBi Manufacturing Unit and Training Centre, engaging in discussions about the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to greener practices.

The group also toured the Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) Innovation Centre in Hamilton, where they were introduced to cutting-edge methods in construction, training retrofitting, and decarbonisation. The visit included a virtual presentation from the National Retrofit Hub, which highlighted initiatives to accelerate the retrofitting of buildings to meet zero-carbon standards.

“This tour showcased and demonstrated the power and benefits of collaboration between unions, city leaders, and industry experts. By working together, we can ensure that the shift to a green economy is not only sustainable but also just and inclusive for all workers and local communities” said Ambet Yuson, General Secretary of BWI.

The learning tour is part of the ongoing efforts by BWI, and C40 Cities to ensure that the transition to a greener economy is equitable and inclusive. By bringing together key stakeholders, the event, led by the BWI affiliated union in the UK, Unite the Union, emphasised the importance of social dialogue in shaping the future of construction. 

The collaboration between these organisations aims to ensure that workers are equipped with the necessary skills, competencies and knowledge to deliver a transition in the construction and building materials sector that is fair and inclusive for workers and their communities, whilst embedding sustainable practices in urban development. 

Unite the Union, the UK’s largest trade union, is focused on both protecting and promoting workers jobs, pay and conditions in the context of decent work, sustainable employment and a worker-led transition. Meanwhile, C40 Cities said that its VISIBLE Project is focused on embedding social equity into urban decarbonisation efforts. 

This article was first published on the BWI website.