From crisis to action: Unions mobilise for climate justice in construction

The Building and Wood Workers' International (BWI) and 3F hosted a regular meeting of the MENAT Network in Amman, Jordan, from 3–4 October. The event saw the participation of  nineteen trade unionists, including five women, representing four BWI affiliates from Jordan, Tunisia, Palestine, and Bahrain.

The affiliates gathered to discuss the pressing impacts of climate change on construction workers, especially in the MENAT sub-region, where high temperatures frequently lead to heat strokes, dehydration, fatigue, and other heat-related illnesses. A key aim of the meeting was to equip trade unionists with strategies to lead climate justice advocacy efforts at the national level, promoting initiatives that protect workers from extreme weather and uphold their rights through a ‘just’ and ‘fair’ transition.

The sessions also explored the economic consequences of climate change, including project cancellations, delays, suspensions, reduced productivity, wage losses, and increased medical costs. Participants examined the challenges trade unions face in addressing these issues during collective bargaining and policy negotiations. Special emphasis was placed on the unique roles of women and youth, recognising their critical contributions to sustainable change and resilience-building.

Informed by these discussions, delegates developed tailored strategies for collective action and advocacy suited to their local contexts. “This meeting reaffirmed the importance of social dialogue and regional cooperation in ensuring a fair transition that secures both environmental sustainability and workers’ rights,” said Mahmoud AlHyari, President of the General Trade Union of Construction Workers in Jordan (GTUCW).