The Green New Deal and Just Transition Frames within the American Labour Movement

The chapter explores the varying and often competing just transition frames promoted within the U.S. labour movement. It will begin with a review of the literature on just transition, including its history and contradictions. Then, to situate readers, the chapter will provide a landscape analysis of the American labour movement with regard to industries, unions, and environmental issues, including an overview of the major structural features that make it on average more conservative than other national labour movements in regard to the environment. Finally, drawing from four years of participant observation within the U.S. labour-climate movement and 34 in-depth qualitative interviews with labour leaders, I will present three ideal typical just transition frames deployed by U.S. labour activists: (1) protective, (2) proactive, and (3) transformative.