Workers urge MSPs to protect energy jobs to halt looming industrial calamity

The transition to renewables energy must be shaped by the experience and skills of workers or risk industrial calamity, MSPs were warned yesterday.

GMB Scotland members from across the energy sector, attended a roundtable meeting at the Scottish Parliament to urge action to slow the loss of oil and gas jobs and the stream of green infrastructure contracts going abroad.

The workers warned the rhetoric around new jobs created by a so-called just transition was far from the reality at the meeting chaired by Michael Marra, Scottish Labour MSP for the North East, and attended by Scottish Government energy secretary Gillian Martin and MSPs.

After the meeting at Holyrood, Robert Deavy, GMB Scotland senior organiser, said the voice of workers must be heard and heeded by political leaders or the UK risks losing the skills and industries crucial to delivering the energy transition.

He said: “It makes no sense to sacrifice workers and sabotage industries with the skills and capabilities needed to actually deliver a transition to renewables instead of just talking about one.

“The voice of energy workers, in particular those in the oil and gas sector, has been ignored as their industries have been driven to the brink while they were promised green jobs tomorrow.

“Well, tomorrow is now here but the jobs are not.  Energy workers know better than anyone what the scale of this transition will demand, what is at stake and how to deliver it.

“If ministers continue to ignore their experience and insight, the UK risks a catastrophic loss of jobs, skills and expertise.

“We appreciate the minister attending today and Michael Marra’s invitation to our members but the time for talk is over.

“Our members need to see an industrial strategy built on realism, ambition, government support and confidence in their skills and experience.”

The need for the SNP government to reconsider its opposition to new nuclear energy and for UK ministers to fully explore the potential of hydrogen to heat homes was raised by workers yesterday while, MSPs were told, the need to improve Scotland’s skills base by increasing the number and quality of apprenticeships is urgent and must be a priority.

Claire Greer, GMB Scotland organiser in energy, said the UK budget this month is an opportunity to reassure the offshore industries and supply chains while building renewables capacity.

She said: “The chancellor has a chance, and there will not be too many more, to help slow the job losses while we urgently plot a new transition that protects the energy we need today while harnessing the skills and experience of energy workers to power our country tomorrow.”

Earlier this year, polling for GMB and Prospect trade unions revealed less than half (47 per cent) of Scots feel positive about the transition from oil and gas to renewable energy and only one in five (17 per cent) believe it will create jobs.

The UK-wide survey also revealed 25 per cent of Scots believe workers should be most influential in shaping the transition to renewables.

Closing the meeting, Michael Marra MSP said the meeting had been an important opportunity to hear from energy workers and Scottish Labour would continue to listen before entering the Holyrood election campaign next year with plans for a transition that protects jobs and communities.

He said: “Scottish Labour will continue to push that agenda, make sure we've got the right manifesto commitments, and speak to GMB colleagues to help shape those commitments.

“That is how we will invest in our communities and create and protect jobs in the long-term.”