RMT responds to record breaking offshore wind procurement

RMT responds to record breaking offshore wind procurement

14 January 2026

RMT Press Office:

Offshore workers union, RMT has commented on a record 8.4GW of wind energy secured in Europe’s biggest ever auction of the renewable.

Eddie Dempsey general secretary said: "The government’s announcement of a record-breaking offshore wind auction shows the scale of what is possible when there is political will to invest in clean energy and long-term infrastructure.

“Expanding offshore wind capacity is essential if Britain is to cut emissions and secure its energy supply.

“However, a real Just Transition cannot be measured by headline figures alone.

“Claims of 7,000 jobs from £22 billion of investment significantly understate the real workforce involved, particularly the thousands of seafarers needed during construction and installation.

“The skills, experience, and safety-critical expertise of workers across the oil and gas supply chain are indispensable to the future of offshore energy and must not be wasted or written off.

“As we move towards greener energy, workers must be guaranteed secure jobs, collective bargaining agreements and fully funded retraining opportunities that allow them to transfer directly into offshore wind and other renewables on equivalent pay, terms, and conditions.

“Climate action cannot succeed if it is built on insecurity, casualisation or the erosion of hard-won standards.”

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Tagged with: RMT, Eddie Dempsey, Offshore, Wind