Offshore Wind Industry – request for RMT members’ input

Circular No: NP/274/18

TO ALL BRANCHES AND REGIONAL COUNCILS.

Our ref: S1/2 S3/9

19th December 2018

Dear Colleagues

Offshore Wind Industry – request for RMT members’ input

Further to Circular No.237/18 of 6th November 2018, the first meeting of the RMT Offshore Wind Working Party was held earlier today.

The past two years have seen the busiest phase of construction in the wind farm sector to date, with a network of nearly 3,000 offshore wind turbines today meeting 21% of the UK’s demand for electricity. There are 33 fully operational wind farms, with 12 more either licensed or under construction on the UK Continental Shelf, with more licences to be issued by the UK and Scottish Governments in 2019.

Offshore wind is a growth industry and will remain so for years to come. The total number of jobs is forecast to more than double to 27,000 by 2030, including a 7,000 increase in construction and maintenance roles.

But there are problems in the offshore wind industry which this union is working to address. Sub-contracting is rife, eroding terms and conditions for a range of offshore workers, from divers to seafarers. Training standards are also poorly regulated, hampering a ‘just transition’ for all offshore workers.

As a priority, all RMT members working or recently employed in the offshore wind industry are asked to submit information and intelligence that would assist your union in tackling poor employment practices and securing recognition agreements in the offshore wind sector. Please submit any and all information you think would assist in this collective task to the National Secretary, Darren Procter at d.procter@rmt.org.uk

I would be grateful if you could bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all members in your branch and you will be kept updated with all further developments.

Yours sincerely

Mick Cash
General Secretary