James Ivens, Socialist Party National Committee
Action cannot be avoided. Firefighters are working overtime against wildfires throughout Britain and Europe. There were 10,000 ‘excess’ deaths across the continent from June’s heat dome alone. Dangerous temperatures are part of our new normal under profit-driven climate crisis.
New Green MP Hannah Spencer has introduced a bill on working temperatures. This is overdue. Bakers’ union BFAWU, among others, has called for legal maximums for years. It also comes days before parliament breaks up for summer – but workers can’t wait.
Almost half of construction workers now report they’ve suffered heat illnesses. Exhaustion will also increase potentially lethal accidents in manual workplaces, on 35°C hospital wards, in 40°C bus and train drivers’ cabins – to name just a few. In fact, heat is now a health and quality-of-life problem everywhere.
But just days before England’s 1am kick-off against Mexico, the Labour government passed emergency legislation so pubs could open till 5am. If they can change rules that fast for FIFA, why can’t they for our safety?
Workers’ action
Workers had to take matters into their own hands in June, as reported in the Socialist’s previous issue (see ‘Workers’ action as temperatures soar’). Groups collectively sent in safety letters under Section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, or even threatened wildcat action – forcing managements to accept their demands.
Union leaderships should use these examples to give members confidence in acting collectively, backed by a clear statement that their union will back them up. But workers need more than localised, emergency responses.
Drivers for Arriva’s north London franchise are now balloting for official strikes over deficient air conditioning on buses. The case for coordination with other garages and areas is obvious: to encourage and plan joint struggle. Linking other issues such as pay, fatigue and contract disparity would reinforce all fights. So would working towards a similar approach for other industries, and within and between other unions.
Workers’ control
This kind of collective discussion would be equally crucial for fleshing out all the new conditions needed in different workplaces. For now, it seems Spencer’s bill will propose only that an ‘independent’ body ‘recommend’ maximum working temperatures.
Independent of bosses’ objections – or workers’ needs? Britain’s main bosses’ federation, the CBI, has opposed any maximum temperatures. They disguise this as a “common-sense approach” because some workplaces, bakeries for example, are hotter than others.
Most European countries don’t yet have maximum temperature laws, but Spain does – with different levels for manual and sedentary work. To workers, common sense is work-specific temperatures; cooling systems; flexible or reduced hours and work intensity without loss of pay.
As for employers, some will be prepared to invest in changes, but only to keep the profit wheels turning. This month, Eurostar upgraded its £1.7 billion order for new Channel Tunnel trains, specifying operating capability up to 55°C!
So the money’s there – not least in record profits for the polluting energy companies and casino-capitalist stock markets. But beyond ensuring work can go on, it’s ‘common sense’ for bosses not to add a penny more to their ‘costs’.
That means a fight. Our side would be much further forward if organised workers had a collective voice not just in the workplace but also in politics. Andy Burnham cleared his path to Number 10 by saying workers deserve better – the unions should insist he make good on that. But why did it take an opposition MP to get heat on the agenda?
Workers’ politics
Unions should therefore also approach Hannah Spencer herself, alongside other MPs who show willing. Are they prepared to act as a conduit for the collective, democratic demands of trade unionists, and be accountable to us?
Above all, a cross-union conference on working-class political representation is needed. A mass party for the whole working class would begin shifting the whole political balance. It would also make the wider heat threats more answerable.
Britain’s crop and livestock production has been hit. Neglected road, rail and tech infrastructure literally melts in modern heatwaves. 96% of homes don’t have air conditioning – and the £45-a-week energy cost prices most of us out, never mind that Britain’s grid doesn’t have the power capacity.
We need mass building and upgrading of council homes to be energy and temperature efficient. Investment in modern infrastructure through fully staffed and funded, publicly owned services. An urgent transition to safe, clean, nationalised, affordable energy with no loss of jobs.
Adapting to a changing climate, alongside preventing its further acceleration, means big investment – and international collaboration. The capitalists have shown they won’t set aside profit or competition to serve either. The hot planet fightback needs socialist policies to take their recklessly abused wealth and power into collective, democratic ownership and planning.
