GMB and energy company bosses have pledged to make sure workers’ voices are heard
Talks were held during a visit to the high-performing Kraken floating production, storage and offloading vessel, which this week reached the milestone of 70 million barrels of oil produced.
Gary Smith, GMB General Secretary, said:
“It is vital that worker voice is front and centre of the debate over the UK’s energy and industrial transition. Change must be done with and not to the people doing so much to help keep our homes warm, lights on, and economy running.
“As a union with deep and proud roots in our energy industries, we are determined to develop better cooperation across the offshore and wider energy sectors to maximise this important principle as we fight for the jobs, investment, and energy security the UK needs.”
Steve Bowyer, EnQuest’s North Sea General manager said:
“We are at a pivotal time for the energy industry with current and proposed fiscal policies creating an environment of uncertainty and putting at risk the investment required to maximise the economic recovery of
our indigenous resources and deliver on our new energy and decarbonisation ambitions.
“The North Sea workforce is passionate about the opportunities that the oil and gas industry has provided them and their families and the impact that our sector has on communities up and down the UK. The workers of our industry are highly skilled and retaining their skills in the UK is critical to delivering the future energy transition.”
Dave Whitehouse, OEUK Chief Executive, said:
“The UK’s energy future depends on the skills of our world class offshore workforce. It is vital that policymakers build an industrial strategy that makes the most of their talents and safeguards jobs and communities across the UK.
“Policy decisions made today will be felt for decades to come.
The new generation of economic growth, innovation and energy security we all agree the UK needs can only come from listening to and investing in our homegrown industry and its highly skilled people.”
