California Unions for Reliable Energy (CURE) is a coalition of labor unions, mainly affiliated with the State Building & Construction Trades Council of California, that uses California Environmental Quality Act lawsuits (or threats thereof) to force developers of power plants, including new solar and other clean energy projects, to sign "project labor agreements", which require construction be done by union workers.[1]: 1 [1]: 1 [1]: 2 [2][3][4]: 1
This practice has been described as "greenmailing".[2][4]: 1
Using union construction workers has been estimated to increase the cost of renewable energy projects by about 20%.[4]: 1
References
edit- ^ a b c Lifsher, Marc (2011-02-05). "Labor coalition's tactics on renewable energy projects are criticized - Three California unions criticize CURE for challenging construction projects on environmental grounds, then dropping objections after CURE's affiliate wins contracts to supply workers. CURE says it aims to protect people and the environment". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2011-02-12.
- ^ a b Rubin, Sarah (2015-03-12). "Environmentalists and shadowy labor group may sue over planned solar farm". Monterey County Weekly.
Horton's firm also has represented California Unions for Reliable Energy (CURE), a coalition that pushes for union contracts on power plants across the state. ... Critics call the practice "greenmailing." ... CURE is a project of the State Building & Construction Trades Council of California.
- ^ Lifsher, Marc (2004-09-06). "Struggle Over Power Plants - Cities say a union group is using environmental laws to protect jobs, but CURE says it's trying to prevent pollution". Archived from the original on 2011-02-14.
The California Energy Commission is studying allegations that California Unions for Reliable Energy, or CURE, repeatedly has threatened to raise environmental concerns that could cause costly delays in licensing procedures unless power plant developers agree to use only union construction workers. ... "CURE aggressively opposed this project, which was surprising because as renewable energy, it faced few environmental hurdles," he said. "But once we executed the project labor agreement and were confirmed as working with the unions, CURE's intervention at the energy commission no longer was an issue."
- ^ a b c Woody, Todd (2009-06-19). "A Move to Put the Union Label on Solar Power Plants". The New York Times.