Update for RMT Offshore Oil and Gas members

Update for RMT Offshore Oil and Gas members 

 

Dear Colleague

 

I am writing to update offshore members following recent developments in the offshore sector since the election of the Labour Government in Westminster.

 

The new Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband MP has moved quickly on policies that directly affect all offshore and supply chain jobs. I attended an Energy Transition Roundtable on 29^th July, chaired by Ed Miliband which provided clear assurances that trade unions organising offshore oil and gas workers, including RMT, will be fully consulted over the policies that deliver Labour’s manifesto commitments.

 

Following the roundtable, your union met officials in the new Office for Clean Energy Jobs to set out how the new Government’s plans to utilise the skills and expertise of offshore oil and gas workers in the renewables sector will benefit you. RMT is also arguing for the measures in the Employment Rights Bill to cover all offshore workers. 

 

As progress on the Energy Services Agreement, Caterers Offshore Trade Agreement and the Offshore Diving Industry Agreement in recent years has shown, collective bargaining remains the best mechanism to protect jobs and conditions in the offshore oil and gas sector and in the wider offshore energy sector.

 

The Labour Government’s legislation on the Crown Estate’s borrowing powers and state-owned firm GB Energy come before Parliament next week. We are preparing briefings for politicians on the key issues for offshore workers. Please send any specific observations that you have on this to the National Policy Department, d.crimes@rmt.org.uk so that we can convey to the new Parliament the state of play amongst offshore oil and gas workers in the North Sea today.

 

You may also have seen today’s announcement concerning the Supreme Court’s judgement (from 20 June) in the Finch case. It is important to be clear that the Government announced a future consultation on counting carbon emissions from the oil and gas sector (offshore and onshore). The announcement does not affect jobs, production levels or existing fields today. The consultation will conclude in spring 2025 and you will be kept up to date with further developments.

 

RMT Lead Officer for the Offshore sector, Ann Joss and the other offshore trade unions met representatives from the employers body (Offshore Energies UK) yesterday. The dialogue will continue with the employers but your union is clear that we will not allow wealthy oil and gas companies to exploit the legitimate concerns of offshore workers.

 

RMT is committed to protecting offshore oil and gas workers from an unmanaged or unplanned transition away from fossil fuels. The Labour Government is saying that it wants to hear from the RMT and our offshore members on how that is done and we are taking them up on that, as you would expect.

 

You will be kept updated with all further developments.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Mick Lynch

General Secretary