Steelton mill hosts kickoff to campaign highlighting climate jobs plan

Cleveland-Cliffs Steelton, the nation’s oldest operating steel mill, hosted a kickoff campaign by Union Energy to highlight the importance of union jobs. 

Union Energy is a collaboration between the PA AFL-CIO and the PA Building Trades. A report authored by the IRL Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University and supported by Union Energy detailed a clean energy future for Pennsylvania. 

Labor leaders, union members, and climate researchers gathered in Steelton to speak of the importance of creating union jobs in the commonwealth. 

“Today is the beginning of a united powerful coalition between unions, faith communities, students, businesses, and academics,” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and Union Energy President Angela Ferritto said in a statement. “We will plant the seeds of a new energy sector where unionized workers lead the way with the same determination and resilience that has always defined us.”  

Robert Bair, PA Building Trades president and Union Energy secretary-treasurer, said Pennsylvania leads the U.S. as an energy exporter and producer and credited Cleveland-Cliffs Steelton.  

“Cleveland-Cliffs built this country, and it will build the steel of tomorrow cleaner than it has ever been,” said Bair. “These opportunities will help build the middle class, do it safely, protect our planet, and give our kids jobs in the future. When the middle class does well, the country does well.” 

Jim Snell, UA/Steamfitters, Local 420 business manager and executive vice president of Union Energy, confirmed his union’s support for the coalition. 

“My union is 100% committed to this effort,” Snell said. “We see this as an opportunity to create an innovative, sustainable economy that generates union energy and a future where both the environment and workers can thrive. As we confront the urgent challenges of climate change, we need good union jobs with wages, benefits, and security.” 

Mike Fishman, executive director, Climate Jobs National Resource Center, said workers need to be involved in climate action. 

“The goal is for labor leaders and workers to put their own plans to get to net zero carbon emissions by 2050,” said Fishman. “As part of a worker centered future, we have to do it in a way that offers good paying jobs. With workers, unions, and environmentalists all working together, we will build one great plan for the future.” 

Maurice Cobb, PA AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer, noted the importance of unions creating momentum to shape the future. 

“We can no longer afford to deny our climate is changing; we see it in our daily lives,” said Cobb. “The question is not whether the changes are happening but how we respond.” 

Cobb said that while the recently passed Solar for Schools legislation represents a step forward, none of the solar panels to be installed on school buildings are union made. The installation of the solar panels, however, will be done by union members. 

 “This is a seismic shift in our economy to create good union jobs, to make sure these jobs align with our values, and to move forward to a cleaner, more sustainable future,” said Cobb. 

the nation’s oldest operating steel mill, hosted a kickoff campaign by Union Energy to highlight the importance of union jobs. 

Union Energy is a collaboration between the PA AFL-CIO and the PA Building Trades. A report authored by the IRL Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University and supported by Union Energy detailed a clean energy future for Pennsylvania. 

Labor leaders, union members, and climate researchers gathered in Steelton to speak of the importance of creating union jobs in the commonwealth. 

“Today is the beginning of a united powerful coalition between unions, faith communities, students, businesses, and academics,” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and Union Energy President Angela Ferritto said in a statement. “We will plant the seeds of a new energy sector where unionized workers lead the way with the same determination and resilience that has always defined us.”  

Robert Bair, PA Building Trades president and Union Energy secretary-treasurer, said Pennsylvania leads the U.S. as an energy exporter and producer and credited Cleveland-Cliffs Steelton.  

“Cleveland-Cliffs built this country, and it will build the steel of tomorrow cleaner than it has ever been,” said Bair. “These opportunities will help build the middle class, do it safely, protect our planet, and give our kids jobs in the future. When the middle class does well, the country does well.” 

Jim Snell, UA/Steamfitters, Local 420 business manager and executive vice president of Union Energy, confirmed his union’s support for the coalition. 

“My union is 100% committed to this effort,” Snell said. “We see this as an opportunity to create an innovative, sustainable economy that generates union energy and a future where both the environment and workers can thrive. As we confront the urgent challenges of climate change, we need good union jobs with wages, benefits, and security.” 

Mike Fishman, executive director, Climate Jobs National Resource Center, said workers need to be involved in climate action. 

“The goal is for labor leaders and workers to put their own plans to get to net zero carbon emissions by 2050,” said Fishman. “As part of a worker centered future, we have to do it in a way that offers good paying jobs. With workers, unions, and environmentalists all working together, we will build one great plan for the future.” 

Maurice Cobb, PA AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer, noted the importance of unions creating momentum to shape the future. 

“We can no longer afford to deny our climate is changing; we see it in our daily lives,” said Cobb. “The question is not whether the changes are happening but how we respond.” 

Cobb said that while the recently passed Solar for Schools legislation represents a step forward, none of the solar panels to be installed on school buildings are union made. The installation of the solar panels, however, will be done by union members. 

 “This is a seismic shift in our economy to create good union jobs, to make sure these jobs align with our values, and to move forward to a cleaner, more sustainable future,” said Cobb.