31 July 2026
RMT Press Office:
OFFSHORE union RMT is deeply concerned by the reports surrounding BP’s future in the North Sea and the potential impact on more than 1,000 skilled workers, their families and communities.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey immediate concern was the livelihoods of the workers who had built and sustained one of the world’s most successful offshore industries for decades.
“Workers have heard promises of a ‘just transition’ for many years, yet we are seeing job losses without equivalent, secure employment being created.
A transition can only be described as ‘just’ if it protects jobs, retains skills and provides realistic opportunities for the workforce and the communities that depend upon the industry.
“Offshore workers should not be left carrying the burden of political uncertainty or a lack of long-term industrial strategy.
“They deserve clarity, investment and a commitment to maintaining the highly skilled workforce that has powered the UK’s energy sector for decades,” he said.
RMT is calling on both the UK and Scottish governments, together with industry, to engage urgently with trade unions to develop a credible plan that safeguards employment, supports investment and ensures that workers are not treated as disposable as the energy sector evolves.
“Our members have the skills, experience and professionalism that will be essential for the UK’s future energy needs—whether in oil and gas, carbon capture, offshore wind, hydrogen or other emerging technologies.
“Protecting those skills must be at the heart of any energy policy,” said Eddie Dempsey.
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