The United Steelworkers (USW) labour union and the Sierra Club are pushing to address manufacturing growth and climate change under the same umbrella, Kallanish understands. 

The so-called BlueGreen Alliance initiative spearheaded by the two groups “...outlines a set of national actions necessary to create a manufacturing economy that is globally competitive, clean, safe and fair for workers and communities,” according to a union statement. 

The plan’s five pillars include investment in new manufacturing techniques; technological innovation; responsible raw material sourcing and recycling; public investment strategies; and adjusting government oversight. 

"The USW will always reject the false notion that we must choose between good jobs and a clean environment," says USW International president Tom Conway. "We believe this country must have both, or we will have neither.”

Conway adds that the Covid-19 pandemic shed a harsh light on the work still ahead for US manufacturing concerns. 

“We don't have the luxury of time," Conway says. "We need to act now, to ensure the long-term health of our citizens, our economy and our planet."

Conway will elaborate further before a US Senate committee on 1 July.