Unite, the union which represents members in the offshore oil industry, has launched an extensive campaign to ensure that a future Labour government drops its planned ban on blocking new licenses for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea, until a genuine programme for the just transition of work is operational.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Labour needs to pull back from this irresponsible policy. There is clearly no viable plan for the replacement of North Sea jobs or energy security. We should not be letting go of one rope until we have hold of another. These types of transitions must have workers at the heart. Unite will not stand by and let workers be thrown on the scrapheap. North Sea workers cannot be sacrificed on the altar of net-zero.”

The union believes that Labour’s current plan to ban all future licences in the North Sea is premature and irresponsible, as there is currently no viable strategy for alternative commensurate green jobs for North Sea workers.

Unite says that it has taken several factors into account, as is aware that national security of energy supply is an increasing concern but is “determined” to see that a just transition increases the UK’s self-sufficiency and doesn’t result in a further reliance on energy from Saudi Arabia or other nations.

---