Aussie companies are urging workers to walk off job for climate action
Canberra: Australian software giant Atlassian has joined a coalition of other retailers and organisations to urge employees to walk off the job and take part in global climate change strikes later this month.
Twenty companies, including KeepCup, energy retailer Amber and ethical superannuation fund Future Super have formed the Not Business as Usual alliance, in an effort to get corporate Australia talking about the threat of climate change.
Millions are expected to down pencils and tools on 20 September, walking out of work places and schools as part of the “Strike 4 Climate Action” march, inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.
Future Super will close its doors on 20 September, urging its workers to march in solidarity.
“We came together with other Australian businesses to form Not Business as Usual because there’s nothing usual about students skipping school and asking adults to help them fight climate change,” Future Super CEO and founder Simon Sheikh said.
“Future Super will be closing its doors on the day of the climate strike, but every business can do something to support its employees who want to participate. “Businesses who support their employees will be sending out a powerful message that this is not business as usual. We need to put boots on the ground and help solve the climate crisis, and by coming together we all have the power to be part of the solution to solve the moral challenge of our generation.”
Australian tech company Atlassian will also be actively encouraging its 3500 workers to take part in the day of action and co-founder and chief executive Mike CannonBrookes said he urged other businesses to support employees who wanted to strike in solidarity as part of the September 20 climate march.