Friday 8th March: The school strikers for climate action welcome the Australian Education Union’s (AEU) support of our March 15 #ClimateStrike
In a statement issued today, Federal President Correna Haythorpe from The Australian Education Union, who represent 190,000 education workers, said:
“The AEU supports the democratic right of students to take direct action, giving voice to their real concerns about the impacts of climate change, and protesting the inaction by the federal government.”
“We commend the actions of students who participated in the climate strike in November 2018 to build pressure on the Morrison government to enact laws and policy that would place Australia at the international forefront on proper action to tackle climate change.”
“The AEU stands in solidarity with students and will work with education departments to ensure that students who wish to participate in the student strike planned for 15 March 2019 are afforded their democratic rights and can do so safely.” Ms Haythorpe said.
The Australian Education Union joins over 15 unions who have endorsed the strike so far, including the National Union of Workers, the Community and Public Sector Union, the Australian Services Union, United Voice, the National Tertiary Education Union, the General & Construction Division of the Construction Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (Vic/Tas), the Australian Nurses and Midwives Federation (Vic/Tas), Education International, a global federation of unions representing 30 million educators worldwide, Public Services International representing 20 million workers worldwide, and more.
Responding to the AEU’s statement of support, Western Sydney school striker Adrian Wildhaber said:
“It’s wonderful that teachers and education bodies like the Australian Education Union are supporting our school strike movement. Support like this helps push our movement forward, igniting further momentum to fight for urgent climate action.
"The widespread support we are receiving shows just how deeply concerned people are about climate change. Climate change is already shaping up to be the number one issue in the 2019 Federal Election. We need politicians to do what it takes to keep fossil fuels in the ground and move Australia to 100% renewable energy. Our future is at stake if they don’t.”
On March 15, tens of thousands of students will strike from school to demand urgent climate action in almost 50 locations across Australia and over 70 countries worldwide.
School strikers are calling on all politicians to treat climate change as a crisis and take urgent action to:
Stop all new fossil fuel projects and
Commit to 100% renewable energy by 2030.
National Media Enquiries: 0427 485 233 OR schoolstrike4climate@gmail.com