Public sector an ‘afterthought’ to North Sea oil jobs, says Unison leader | Trade unions

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.

The decision caused anger among climate campaigners and scientists, as well as many Labour supporters, who argue that extracting more fossil fuels will further escalate the crisis and do nothing to reduce bills, significantly improve energy security or halt the long-term decline in jobs in the sector. A final government decision on the more controversial Rosebank oilfield is expected before the end of the year.

After Wednesday’s budget, which factored in the project’s approval in its forecast, the Guardian revealed some Labour MPs were lobbying Andy Burnham and John Healey not to overrule the energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, if she decided to block Rosebank.

Egan said approving Jackdaw was “a serious misstep from the government” and sent the wrong signal about the UK’s climate commitments. She said ministers should instead focus on creating secure, well-paid jobs in the renewable sector for oil and gas workers and give similar support to the millions of employees in the public sector, which has also been hit by severe cuts in recent years.

“It’s time for the government to get its priorities straight: invest in clean energy, invest in the public services that communities rely on – to the benefit of us all.”

There is a split among the UK’s main trade unions on allowing fossil fuel companies to drill in the North Sea. Unite and GMB, which represent many oil and gas workers, back more licences, while Unison and the National Education Union oppose more drilling as part of a wider drive to create long term sustainable jobs and tackle the climate crisis.

One concern among unions is that jobs in the rapidly growing renewables sector are often not unionised and therefore not as secure or well paid as in those in the oil and gas sector.

However, last week Unison announced a new recognition deal with the UK’s largest energy company, Octopus Energy, known as a progressive organisation with a focus on renewable energy.

The GMB union had been attempting to gain recognition at Octopus but the company said Unison “stood out for its commitment to the energy transition”.

Egan said it was an important step to securing good, secure jobs in the renewable sector. “Unison is proud to be leading the way as the clean energy union. We urgently need more well-paid, unionised jobs and to transition away from fossil fuels at pace. This agreement is a step in the right direction on both counts.”