Brian K. Obach

Labor-Environmental Relations: An Analysis of the Relationship between Labor Unions and Environmentalists

Objective. I seek to assess the quality of relations between labor unions and environmental organizations and to identify economic, political, and organizational factors that influence those relations. Methods. A survey of state labor leaders was conducted in order to determine the quality of relations between unions and environmental organizations around the United States. Ordinary least squares regression is used to identify associations between state level economic and political indicators and the quality of labor-environmental relations. Results. Relations between labor unions and environmentalists are generally positive. Except for the timber industry, there is no evidence of hostility between environmentalists and unions in industries that may be threatened with job loss due to environmental measures. Republican control of state government and labor-industry cooperation are associated with poor labor-environmental relations. Conclusions. Popular beliefs about entrenched “jobs versus the environment” conflict are largely unfounded. Instances of conflict between unions and environmental advocates are rare and largely isolated in certain employment sectors. Although unions and environmentalists share certain interests, Republican political control reduces cooperation between these two constituencies. Unions can be seen as situated between employers and environmentalists in regard to environmental issues. Cooperation with employers results in poorer relations between unions and environmentalists.

Theoretical Interpretations of the Growth in Organic Agriculture: Agricultural Modernization or an Organic Treadmill?

Ecological modernization theory and treadmill of production theory offer competing interpretations of the direction of environmental practices in capitalist democracies. These theoretical perspectives are applied to the growth and institutionalization of organic agriculture in the United States. From the perspective of ecological modernization theory, the growing popularity of organic agriculture and its institutionalization in the form of federal standards follow a pattern of social processes in which social movements, entrepreneurs, market forces, and the state act together to advance ecological sustainability. Yet treadmill theory suggests that social processes innate to capitalist democracies will undermine any potential environmental benefits derived from the organic movement. Support is found for both theoretical perspectives. While economic processes identified by treadmill theorists indicate that environmental gains are often lost over time, the adoption of more environmentally sound methods in the agriculture industry may represent a lasting improvement over conventional agriculture.

New Labor Slowing the Treadmill of Production

Within the treadmill of production framework, labor unions are considered one of the central actors propelling the system of environmental degradation. This article examines the evidence for this designation. American Federation of Labor–Congress of Industrial Organizations documents and other historical evidence indicate unions have been strong proponents of expanding production, lending support to the view that unions are rightfully considered key treadmill actors. Yet closer examination indicates labor has played a contradictory role. Unions have advocated for policies and engaged in workplace activities that slow the treadmill of production. Unions should be considered proponents of the treadmill system, but recent developments may be pushing labor away from that position. Economic globalization, changes in employment patterns, a corporate assault on labor, and newunion leadership have led to strategic changes within the labormovement—including greater willingness to work with environmental advocates—creating the potential for labor to more directly challenge the treadmill system.

The Wisconsin Labor-Environmental Network A Case Study of Coalition Formation among Organized Labor and the Environmental Movement

Political conflict between environmental advocates and polluting industries is easily under-stood. However, workers may also be affected by environmental measures leading to the involvement of unions in environmental policy debates. The impact of environmental policy on the status of workers varies a great deal and the position that unions take on environmental issues also shows significant variability. How unions will relate to environmental organizations and whether cooperation or conflict will develop between them requires examination. In this article, the case of the Wisconsin Labor-Environmental Network, a political coalition of unions and environmentalists, is used to examine the outcome of labor-environmental interactions around a range of issues. Utilizing class and social movement theory to inform the analysis, a typology of strategic outcomes is created that encompasses the range of possible results. These include (a) instrumental cooperation, (b) enlightened cooperation, (c) compromise cooperation, and (d) cases of irreconcilable differences.

Capitalism, State Economic Policy and Ecological Footprint: An International Comparative Analysis

This article examines the relationship between state economic policy and environmental performance. It tests the hypothesis that a greater reliance on free market policies leads to higher levels of resource use and pollution. This issue sits at the heart of much theoretical debate about the role of capitalism in environmental performance. The Economic Freedom Index is used as a measure of the degree to which states adhere to free market policies. Environmental performance is measured through the use of per capita ecological footprint, a measure that accounts for a broad range of resource use and pollution. Pooled time series analysis is used to examine economic policies and environmental performance in 110 countries from the years 1996 to 2003. The results indicate that free market policies are associated with greater ecological degradation, but that not all aspects of capitalism have this negative effect.

Consumption, Ecological Footprints and Global Inequality A Lesson in Individual and Structural Components of Environmental Problems

As evidence of the growing ecological crisis mounts, it is imperative that sociolo gists speak to this social problem and incor porate a sociological perspective on envi ronmental issues into the curriculum. Cen tral to understanding how social issues re late to environmental problems is an exami nation of the ties between consumption and its ecological consequences. The lesson described here encourages students to criti cally reflect on their behavior by examining the ecological impact of their own consump tion habits relative to consumption patterns in the less developed world. Structural forces facilitating consumption are con trasted with the ability of individuals to ex ercise agency over consumption choices, thus demonstrating the magnitude of the challenges we face as we seek to create a world that is both ecologically sustainable and socially just. Popular presentations of environmental issues often avoid discussion of the signifi cance of excessive consumption. To the extent that consumption is raised in connec tion with these issues, we are often told how switching to different types of con sumption (not reducing consumption) can help to achieve ecological sustainability. Consumer products based on new, more efficient technologies, such as hybrid vehi cles or compact fluorescent light bulbs, are presented as the answer to our environ mental problems. We are told that if con sumers simply make more environmentally

A Fracking Fracas Demonstrates Movement Potential

A social movement against fracking is scoring victories in some states but not others. Why are some groups finding more success?

Polarization and the environmental movement in Turkey

ABSTRACT Environmental civil society organizations in Turkey have been drawn into the deep cultural and religious divide that characterizes Turkish society more broadly. Turkish environmental organizations are viewed by the Islamist leaning government as proxies for secularist opposition forces and not as independent voices truly committed to environmental protection. Interview data from fifty environmental leaders and Turkish state officials are analyzed to demonstrate how effective civil society functioning in the environmental sphere has been undermined by these deep partisan divisions. Local environmental struggles create one area of opportunity where environmental advocates can bridge the divide and work in collaboration with conservative government supporters.