Sixty-five climate organisations, backed by major UK trade unions, have called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to allocate £1.9 billion annually to support offshore oil and gas workers as the UK transitions to renewable energy. In a letter to the Treasury, the groups, including Unite the Union and the National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT), demand targeted investment in renewable job creation, port infrastructure, and training programs for the workforce.
The letter, endorsed by unions representing over 1.4 million workers, emphasizes the need for public investment in domestic wind manufacturing and skills development to secure the future of offshore workers. The proposed funding would allocate £1.1 billion annually for the creation of permanent jobs in public and community-owned wind manufacturing, £440 million for port infrastructure upgrades, and £355 million for a training fund to help workers transition from oil and gas to renewable sectors.
Signatories argue that despite the rapid growth of offshore wind in the UK, the industry has not generated sufficient domestic jobs, as much of the manufacturing work has been outsourced overseas. They also point to inadequate training programs that hinder worker mobility between industries and highlight safety concerns in the offshore wind sector, where injury rates are reportedly higher than in comparable industries.
“For too long, industry bosses have pocketed record profits while oil and gas workers bear the brunt of the decline of North Sea oil and gas,” said Mel Evans, a campaigner at Greenpeace. “A proper, ring-fenced funding package to upgrade our energy industry would transform our energy sector, reduce household bills, future-proof jobs, and provide opportunities for generations to come.”
Unions have emphasized the importance of creating sustainable green jobs as part of the UK's renewable energy strategy. Joe Rollin, Senior Organiser at Unite the Union, stated, “We can't allow a situation where North Sea workers face a cliff edge, with no skilled green jobs to go to while the UK becomes more reliant on importing fossil fuels.”
The letter also outlines potential funding sources for the £1.9 billion package, including raising taxes on major polluters and implementing a modest wealth tax, which the Trades Union Congress (TUC) estimates could generate £10 billion from the wealthiest individuals in the UK.
