Trade Unions and Climate Groups Demand £1.9 Billion Emergency Funding for North Sea Workers

Several trade unions and 65 climate groups have united to call for £1.9 billion in emergency funding for North Sea workers ahead of the British Government’s spending review. The organizations came together to rally outside Parliament in London, urging chancellor Rachel Reeves to provide more support for oil and gas workers to transition into green jobs.

The coalition is proposing that £1.1 billion a year should be allocated to developing permanent, local jobs in public and community-owned manufacturing. Additionally, they are urging for £440 million per year to be invested in ports and £355 million per year to establish a dedicated training fund for offshore oil and gas workers, with match-funding from the industry.

The groups argue that oil and gas companies have neglected to invest in renewable energy jobs and retraining for their workers, prioritizing shareholder profits and outsourcing jobs that could be kept in Britain.

This call for emergency funding comes in the wake of recent job losses at major industrial sites such as the Scunthorpe steel plant, the Tata steel plant in Port Talbot, and the Grangemouth oil refinery, sparking a national conversation about a just transition for workers in high-emitting sectors.

Mel Evans, climate team leader at Greenpeace UK, emphasized the importance of protecting oil and gas workers’ futures and communities from the whims of profit-driven corporations. She stressed the need for government intervention to safeguard livelihoods and ensure a smooth transition to renewable energy.

Claire Peden, campaign team lead at Unite the Union, called on the UK government to deliver a concrete plan that guarantees secure jobs for oil and gas workers as part of the energy transition. With 30,000 jobs at risk by 2030, Peden underscored the urgency of prioritizing workers in the shift towards a more sustainable energy sector.

Ruby Earle, worker transition lead at Platform, echoed the sentiment, urging for urgent public investment to create permanent, unionized renewable energy jobs and support oil and gas workers in transitioning to these roles. She emphasized the need to empower workers and communities in shaping the future of the energy industry.

Coalition and Support

Joining forces with Greenpeace, Unite, and Platform, the coalition includes the National Union of Rail and Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Aberdeen’s Trades Union Councils, and 65 climate groups such as Uplift, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Oil Change International, and Extinction Rebellion.

The PA news agency has reached out to the Treasury for comment on this pressing issue.

About the Author

Rebecca Speare-Cole is the PA sustainability reporter.