Power Lines: Building a Labor–Climate Justice Movement

by Jeff Ordower (Editor), Lindsay Zafir (Editor)

The essential anthology on the most effective ways to organize a labor movement for environmental justice, from leading organizers in the field

The corporate elite have long pitted climate and labor movements against each other through a “jobs vs. the environment” narrative that maximizes profits. But over the last few years, labor unions and climate organizers have been pushing back against this framework and organizing for a real just transition. Featuring contributions from key organizers in climate justice and labor,  Power Lines  tackles the most pressing questions facing those who are trying to build a movement for economic and environmental justice. The collection provides practical organizing models and strategies as well as inspiration for the possibility of making change on climate. Power Lines  moves beyond an analysis of the class politics of climate change or the strategic imperative of federal climate legislation, making the case for the urgency of a robust labor-climate justice movement. It also shows us how we can build that movement by sharing some of the most creative and effective organizing happening on the ground right now.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Labor

240 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2024

Reviews

[Sarah Jaffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was feeling kinda despondent about things and then read this (full disclosure: for a blurb, but I only do those honestly) and it cheered me up. Everything is shit but the workers remain very good.

[chaptersbydani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher, New Press, for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!


Power Lines is an anthology of works exploring the intersections of the labor and environmental justice movements. Told in a series of “spark stories,” the book explores the labor-climate movement across the United States. The essays and interviews in this book- the spark stories- are called these because of the editors’ “hopes that these sparks will catch fire into a labor-climate justice movement capable of winning a just transition to a healthy, regenerative, equitable, and democratic economy.”

This book truly has something for everyone. The essays and interviews are educational, informative, and provide hope for the reader. It explores the history of the labor and environmental justice movements, their collaborations in the past, while tracing the current growth of the labor-climate movement.

Though written by professionals, the book is incredibly accessible no matter your level of political knowledge and involvement. Also, while this is an introductory work of sorts, it is also a deep dive into this political movement. Readers will come away feeling educated without being overwhelmed.

What I appreciated most about this book is that it is truly intersectional. There was diversity of age, race, gender, immigration status, geographic location, occupation and more. I was surprised and appreciative to see a spark story from a Spanish speaker (English translations were provided along with the Spanish answers).

As a Gen-Z person living in a state heavily dependent on coal, the essays that most spoke to me were “YOUNG WORKERS CAN BRIDGE THE LABOR AND CLIMATE MOVEMENTS” and “ORGANIZING COAL COUNTRY.” My personal favorite was the essay about food workers organizing and growing into the organization Familias Unidos por la Justicia- “OUR WORK IS WHAT MAKES THE FOOD SYSTEM GO.” The essays I found most educational, though were “PUSHING FOR A GREEN NEW DEAL FOR EDUCATION FROM BELOW” and “KILLING THE WIINDIGO.”

[Viral · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting anthology about efforts around the country to build solidarity between climate justice activists and labor in its many forms. Some of these were things I'd heard about before - just transition work, unionizing renewable energy workers, trying to get building trades on board with climate justice work. Some of it was really interesting and unique - I really appreciated the section talking about ski resort workers and farmworkers, as well as about bringing Indigenous perspectives to this work.

Unfortunately, many of the projects described in this book relied on money from the various climate infrastructure bills the Biden Administration championed, which the Trump II Administration has quickly dismantled. That concerns me, when thinking about how we continue this important work. But an interesting reflection nevertheless with some useful insights about growing the climate-labor movement.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the essays that smartly situate the problem of climate change as directly effecting everyone except the uber wealthy, and how the fake dichotomy of climate change vs workers is put in place by those who will benefit most at the cost of our communities and the environment. Great set of essays and a fun read for anyone who is already pro-orca in the great war on billionaires.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were some truly fantastic ideas within this anthology. I found it as a whole to be inspiring and hopeful in a world that often isn't either of those. Some of the specific topics were more interesting to me personally, but I honestly enjoyed them all and felt each one added something to the collection.

[Amanda Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring stories of labour and environmental organizers joining forces to create a better world.

[Bridgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Easy to read and very descriptive
*Insightful reading relating to the climate and labor movements
*Informative and educational
*Highly recommend

[Margaret Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good to have all of these case studies together. Some of the campaigns I already knew about, but many were new to me.