Energy / MP and MSP say door is open as they respond to union’s oil and gas pledge poster
SHETLAND’s MP and MSP have said their door is open to Unite after the union said they have not signed its pledge to protect oil and gas jobs.
Unite has put up posters in Shetland which appear to accuse the two politicians of not backing the sector.
Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael said in response he has repeatedly made it clear that he supports workers in the industry “in their fight to be part of a just transition”.
Meanwhile Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart said she would be “happy to sit down with anyone from Unite to discuss the future of the oil and gas workers”.
The Unite poster, which features a photo of Sullom Voe Terminal, said “we back Shetland’s oil and gas workers” and referred to its “no ban without a plan” campaign, which says there should not be a “jobless” transition to net zero.
It added that “Shetland’s MP and MSP still haven’t signed Unite’s pledge to protect oil and gas jobs” – with a QR code then linking to a webpage offering people the chance to write to their political representatives and encourage them to sign up.
Responding to the poster, Carmichael said he has repeatedly shown support for oil and gas workers in the past.
“Most recently I spoke about this during the visit of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to Sullom Voe when their GMB colleagues were present,” he said.
The Liberal Democrat also said a headline from a story published by Shetland News from that day – ‘route to net zero goes through oil and gas’ – was based on a comment he made.
Route to net zero goes through oil and gas, Labour leader hears on visit north
Carmichael further said he was a co-signatory last year to a declaration from trade body OEUK, while that followed an earlier initiative in 2022 in which he played a central role.
“If Unite want to come and discuss this with me in the way that other unions have done then I will be pleased to see them,” Carmichael said.
“There is a diminishing number of people who genuinely understand the need for continued domestic oil and gas production on the UK Continental Shelf as part of the transition to a renewable energy future. I recognise that many of them are in the trade union movement.
“It is essential that unions, politicians and companies find a way to work together cooperatively instead of trying to score points off each other.”
Meanwhile Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart said she would be “happy to sit down with anyone from Unite to discuss the future of the oil and gas workers – my door is always open”.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats fought in the budget to ensure investment in skills to support a just transition as people in the industry have the experience and transferable skills, and many want to switch,” she added.
“I believe that so far both of Scotland’s governments have failed to provide workers with opportunities as part of that just transition and it is time they rectified this, working with oil and gas companies and emerging renewables companies, and unions.”
With oil and gas a matter reserved to Westminster, the Labour UK Government is set to press ahead with plans to stop new oil and gas licences being granted in future in the transition away from fossil fuels.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has called this an “irresponsible policy”.
“It is madness to do this without a viable plan including concrete equivalent jobs for North Sea workers and real assurances on energy security,” she said.
“We must not let go of one lifeline until we’ve got hold of another. Unite won’t sit back and let workers be abandoned – there must be a workers’ transition to net zero.”
Earlier this month the UK Government launched a consultation called Building the North Sea’s Energy Future.
The government said it was “seeking views on delivering the government’s commitment to support a prosperous and managed North Sea transition”.
In the consultation’s foreword, secretary of state for energy security and net zero Ed Miliband said: “The North Sea will be at the heart of Britain’s energy future.
“For decades, its workers, businesses and communities have helped power our country and our world. And they will do so for decades to come.
“Oil and gas production will continue to play an important role and as the world embraces the drive to clean energy, the North Sea gives Britain a chance to show new leadership once again.
“By seizing this opportunity, we can show global leadership on accelerating the clean energy revolution, ensure good, sustainable jobs for the future and act in line with the science on fossil fuels.”
The MP added: “Britain is sprinting to clean energy because it’s the only way to deliver energy security, good jobs for the long-term, and a managed, orderly and prosperous transition for the current workforce and communities.
“At the same time, a science-aligned approach to future oil and gas production is the only way to deliver climate security for future generations.
“It is for these reasons that, while we will manage existing oil and gas fields for their lifespan, the government committed not to issue licences to explore new fields. The truth is that irrespective of the position on licences, there is an urgent need to plan for the future of the North Sea.”
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