Reported by: Jenell WaltonWeb produced by: Ian PreuthHundreds of people are losing their jobs, many of them manufacturing jobs due to the poor economy.
The United Steelworkers union is working to create new jobs in the "green" industry for its members, many of whom have been laid off or fired from manufacturing jobs.
Labor leaders are gathering at a town hall meeting to talk about green jobs in Evanston Monday night.
The leaders said more than 20,000 jobs will be created in Ohio from the green economy.
Union leaders want their members to get the training for those jobs.
Shawn Hesse can be considered a green employee. That's not based on his lack of experience, but on his advanced training in designing "green" buildings as an architect at Emersion Design in Norwood.
"We have interns that are here from the University of Cincinnati that work with us and are excited about getting involved in some of the green designs we're working on," Hesse said.
Many students are enrolling in college to get degrees in green technology, but now there is a need for construction workers who are certified in green construction.
With companies like the Ford Plant in Batavia laying off hundreds of employees, many see it as an opportunity for them to transition into a green career.
"When you look at global warming, whether or not you agree with it, it's an economic opportunity. It's an economic engine," explained Susan Knight of the Blue Green Alliance.
"It's exciting to be able to talk to workers in Ohio who quite frankly are the most highly skilled, best workers in the world and be able to say there's an alternative. We have to push for it. We have to demand it there's an option and that option is going green," Knight said.
The Blue Green Alliance is heading a joint effort between the United Steel Workers union and the Sierra Club to work to save the planet. One suggestion is to recycle old manufacturing plants into factories where green products can be made.
"It also translates into construction jobs like Susan was talking about. Somebody has got to put the stuff together in the field," Hesse explained.
Union leaders, green educators and Hamilton County representatives will speak at the town hall meeting at the Laborer's Hall at 3457 Montgomery Road.
The meeting runs from 6 until 7:30 p.m.
"At this town hall, there are going to be clear opportunities to hear about how you get certified. How you get additional training," Knight explained.
