Unison leader Andrea Egan has criticized the approval of the Jackdaw gasfield, warning that ministers are neglecting essential workers in favor of fossil fuel extraction. While unions remain split over North Sea drilling, labor leaders broadly worry that emerging renewable energy roles provide weaker protections and lower wages than traditional offshore work. To counter this, Unison recently secured a recognition agreement with Octopus Energy to foster better pay and security in the clean power market.
Key points
Trade unions remain openly divided, with Unite and GMB favoring fossil fuel licensing whi…: Trade unions remain openly divided, with Unite and GMB favoring fossil fuel licensing while Unison and the National Education Union oppose it.
Public service leaders want the government to shift its primary investment away from foss…: Public service leaders want the government to shift its primary investment away from fossil fuels and toward public services and clean energy.
Labor representatives fear that expanding renewable sector jobs currently offer lower pay…: Labor representatives fear that expanding renewable sector jobs currently offer lower pay and less security than established offshore oil roles.
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The leader of the UK’s biggest trade union has called for the same political focus to be given to NHS, education and care sector workers as there has been on those employed in North Sea oil and gas.
Andrea Egan, the general secretary of Unison, said too often public sector workers were treated as an “afterthought” by the government compared with the “massive political focus” on protecting jobs in the North Sea.
“There’s no question it is vital for oil and gas workers to be guaranteed secure, well-paid jobs in the industries of the future,” Egan said. “But public service workers, in contrast, often seem like an afterthought for ministers. What about the thousands of jobs cut in recent years across local government, the NHS and education? Care workers, nurses, teaching assistants.”
North Sea oil and gas has been in the headlines again in recent weeks after the government gave the go ahead to the Jackdaw gasfield following huge pressure from the fossil fuel industry and rightwing politicians – in the UK and abroad.
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