Teachers Unions Win Climate Victories Through Contract Negotiations

As federal climate support dwindles, teachers unions across America are finding creative ways to fight environmental challenges by incorporating green demands into their contract negotiations with school districts. From Chicago to Los Angeles, educators are successfully pushing for solar panels, electric buses, and clean energy career programs as part of their labor agreements.

The Chicago Teachers Union exemplifies this approach, securing a contract that includes solar panel installations, improved air quality monitoring, and clean energy job training for students. In Minneapolis, teachers demanded environmental task forces and free public transit passes for students, while Los Angeles educators are pushing for electric school buses and EV charging stations. These victories demonstrate how unions can address climate change while improving school conditions and potentially saving districts money.

The strategy makes practical sense for aging school infrastructure. Chicago’s schools average 83-84 years old and face an estimated $30 billion in needed upgrades for issues like lead pipes, asbestos, and mold. As Jackson Potter from the Chicago Teachers Union explains, “If you’re going to do a roof repair, put solar on it” – creating energy independence while addressing environmental justice in communities hit hardest by pollution.

However, this approach faces challenges. Some union members worry that focusing on climate issues might overshadow core concerns like wages and working conditions. The success largely depends on framing environmental improvements as directly benefiting students and communities, rather than abstract global causes. Meanwhile, new research shows the urgency: students lose significant learning time when classroom temperatures rise above 80°F, with math scores particularly affected and low-income schools suffering the most.