A series of talks, screenings and workshops exploring labour, environmental justice and collective responses to climate and ecological crises.
About the Series
Up in Flames brings together workers, unions, students, researchers, organizers and Indigenous knowledge holders to think critically about the social and political challenges of climate and ecological change.
The series explores how environmental crises intersect with work, inequality, colonialism and extractive economies. It creates space for conversations about the role of workers and unions in environmental struggles, Indigenous jurisdiction and land-based movements and the possibilities for building just and democratic futures.
Originally launched in 2024, Up in Flames returns for the 2026–2027 academic year through a collaboration between the Global Labour Research Centre (GLRC) and Infrastructure Beyond Extractivism (IBE), with the participation of the Trade Unions and Labour Environmentalism Network (TULE).
What We’re Exploring
Moving away from extractive and carbon-intensive economies is not only a question of technology or energy. It is also about power, work, land, authority and collective action.
Through talks, workshops, film screenings and discussions, Up in Flames asks what a radically-just transition could look like and who gets to shape it. How can workers and unions build power in response to climate and ecological crises? How do colonial and extractive systems continue to shape emerging “green” economies? What can labour, Indigenous, environmental and community movements learn from one another?
The series approaches these questions through labour, environmental justice and anticolonial perspectives.
2026–2027 Events
Earth's Greatest Enemy: Film Screening + Post-Screening Conversation
September 24, 2026
5:00–8:00 p.m.
Workshop: From vision to action, mobilizing unions, workers and students for a radically-just transition
October 28, 2026
12:30–2:00 p.m.
York University
HNES Building, Room 140
Higher Education Worker Campaign Meeting
Bargaining for the common good + a just transition for education
Featuring: Todd Vachon, Rutgers University
October 7, 7:00 PM
502 Bathurst Street, Toronto
Meet workers from different universities and colleges and get organized.
Stay tuned for more events!
Series Partners
The Global Labour Research Centre (GLRC) at York University brings together researchers, workers, unions, students and community partners to advance critical research, education and public engagement on work, labour and livelihoods.
The Trade Unions and Labour Environmentalism Network (TULE) is a network of researchers examining how trade unions can develop working-class environmentalism and build worker power in response to climate and ecological crises.
Infrastructure Beyond Extractivism (IBE) is a SSHRC-funded partnership based at York University and University of Victoria working toward material approaches to restoring Indigenous jurisdiction and reimagining infrastructure beyond colonial and extractive systems.
