What they call their work
What they do
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Energy Policy Advocacy & Research 3 activities
- Advancing climate policy through worker-centered advocacyEducates workers and the public on policies to build a clean energy economy, advance equitable communities, and create union jobs; advocates for climate policy at the state level that promotes clean energy, union jobs, equity, and affordability, including specific efforts such as capping orphan wells and modernizing the electric grid in Pennsylvania.
- Building union-led climate jobs coalitions and networksSupports workers and develops union-led coalitions across states and regions to advance pro-worker climate action, including launching new labor-led climate jobs initiatives in the U.S. and convening regular working groups with union affiliates to shape climate jobs priorities.
- Implementing union-led clean energy projects and infrastructureLaunches and expands state-level Climate Jobs Projects to engage the labor movement in addressing climate change while creating union jobs; supports organizing, siting, permitting, and construction of clean energy projects with union labor; includes direct implementation such as rebuilding union facilities with net-zero energy systems like solar, battery storage, and geothermal heating.
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Nonprofit Sector Research & Data Analysis 1 activity
- Conducting research on clean energy, job creation, and climate policyProduces research and analysis focused on worker-centered perspectives, labor education, job creation, economic development, and climate protection to inform advocacy and policy strategies.
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Clean Energy Workforce Training 1 activity
- Delivering clean energy workforce training programsProvides apprenticeship training and specialized programs such as the Green Supers Program in New York City to prepare building service workers and others for union jobs in energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainable building practices.
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Who runs it
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL FISHMAN | PRESIDENT DIRECTOR | 35 | $240K |
| LAUREN DEES-ERICKSON | EMPLOYEE | 35 | $217K |
| EMMA REBHORN | EMPLOYEE | 31 | $203K |
| MATTHEW RYAN | EMPLOYEE | 34 | $201K |
| DAVE HANCOCK | EMPLOYEE | 34 | $198K |
| KATHERINE POOLE | EMPLOYEE | 34 | $125K |
- LARA SKINNER — SEC-TREAS DIRECTOR
- RICK LEVY — DIRECTOR
- VINCENT ALVAREZ — DIRECTOR
Who they work with
- AFSCME Partner — Union affiliate and organizational partner in labor and climate jobs advocacy in Pennsylvania
- Climate Jobs Institute Partner — Academic and research partner at Cornell University’s Industrial and Labor Relations School supporting climate jobs initiatives.
- Climate Jobs New York Network — Mike Fishman was a founding officer of Climate Jobs New York, a state-level affiliate of the Climate Jobs movement.
- Cornell Climate Jobs Institute Partner — Research and strategic planning partner whose Pennsylvania climate jobs report informs Union Energy's initiatives
- Cornell University Partner — Institutional home of the Climate Jobs Institute, serving as applied research and education partner.
- Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation, Local 3544 Partner — Labor union of which Lara Skinner was an active member.
- IBEW Local 58 Partner — Collaborated on the development of Michigan’s first net-zero energy union hall.
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1253 Partner — Union partner whose members are involved in building solar and offshore wind infrastructure supported by the organization.
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 223 Partner — Union partner whose members contribute to clean energy storage and local job creation in climate infrastructure.
- International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139 Partner — Union partner whose members are engaged in clean energy projects supported by the organization.
- Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste Partner — Former organization Lara Skinner worked with in labor, focused on farmworkers' rights.
- SEIU Local 32BJ Partner — Mike Fishman served as President of SEIU Local 32BJ, a union representing property service workers and involved in green workforce development.
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Network — Mike Fishman served as Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU, a national union affiliated with the labor network supporting climate jobs initiatives.
- Texas AFL-CIO Partner — Collaborates through leadership involvement and joint initiatives such as the Texas Climate Jobs Project.
- University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center Partner — Organization Lara Skinner collaborated with during her early labor career.
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Integration of Climate and Labor Goals through Research and Educationmethodology: integrated_labor_climate_researchBy conducting and disseminating research that links clean energy, job creation, and economic development, we advance both climate and economic justice, because shared understanding among workers, policymakers, and communities enables aligned action.
- Just Transition with Early Worker Engagementmethodology: just_transitionBy engaging workers and communities early in energy transition planning, we produce more equitable and durable outcomes, because inclusive processes prevent marginalized groups from being left behind and build broad-based support for change.
- Labor-Led Climate Actionmethodology: labor_led_climate_actionBy centering labor unions in climate policy and project design, we produce equitable climate solutions and union job creation, because worker leadership ensures that climate action addresses economic justice and community needs simultaneously.
- Labor-Led Demonstration Projectsmethodology: labor_led_demonstrationBy launching high-visibility, union-led clean energy projects, we prove organized labor’s capacity to lead the green transition, because tangible models inspire replication and shift perceptions of labor’s role in climate solutions.
- Workforce Development as Climate Infrastructuremethodology: workforce_development_for_green_infrastructureBy training building service workers in sustainability practices, we reduce environmental impact and improve building health, because equipping frontline workers with green skills operationalizes climate goals within existing urban infrastructure.