Oil and gas workers have called for Unite the Union to disaffiliate from the UK Labour Party because of growing concern about the direction of energy policy.
The union’s National Oil Refineries and Terminals Committee (NORTCC) this week called for Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Energy Minister Michael Shanks to be sacked.
Now it wants the union to begin discussions on withdrawing support for the Labour party, with a Grangemouth based official declaring: “Enough is enough”.
Cliff Bowen, executive council member for chemicals, pharmaceuticals, process, textiles and glass at Unite the Union, said the closure of Grangemouth and imminent closure of the Lindsey refinery in Lincolnshire was “decarbonisation by deindustrialisation”.
He said an insolvency firm this week announced 125 redundancies at Lindsey “even though there are at least two bids to buy and operate the site as a going concern, keeping a full workforce in place.”
Lindsey supports 420 directly employed workers, plus a further 500 contract jobs, and thousands more in the supply chain.
“Another community wrecked,” said Mr Bowen, who has worked in the industry for more than 30 years. “Our union has had government promises that it would do everything to expedite job-focused bids. But here we are – again. The second refinery to close under the Labour government in 2025. Decarbonisation by deindustrialisation.
“This government cannot wax lyrical about energy security while closing down our industry and continuing to import what we can produce here from foreign nations. It makes no sense.
“It certainly makes no sense to our members. How many more jobs need to go in oil and gas? How many more communities need to be devastated before this government listens?
“And don’t let them tell you they didn’t know what the sector needed – we have been very clear on what it needs, but it has been ignored. My union and our members have had enough of their virtue signaling.”
This week, the National Oil Refineries and Terminals Committee (NORTCC) wrote to Unite’s General Secretary Sharon Graham to share growing concern over the current direction of UK energy policy under the leadership of Mr Miliband and Mr Shanks.
“The policies pursued by their department are proving not only detrimental to the long-term viability of the UK’s oil and gas sector but also to the livelihoods of tens of thousands of skilled workers represented by Unite the Union,” said Mr Bowen.
“We believe that the continued tenure of both ministers is incompatible with the interests of energy security, economic resilience, and industrial employment. We, therefore, have called for Unite the Union to join us in calling for their resignation.
“Furthermore, the NORTCC has now formally called on Unite the Union to begin discussions on disaffiliation from the UK Labour Party at our upcoming Executive Council meeting later this month.
“Enough is enough.”
His comments drew support from other workers, including energy company executives.
Martin Copeland, chief financial officer at Serica Energy, said: “Very well said – we can’t have the student politics of a metropolitan elite drive the country’s economy and jobs (and energy security) into ruin !”
Len Tiahlo of Calderdale Geoscience, said:” “Maybe the Unions will win Starmer’s ear and persuade him to sack Miliband. But sadly those two and Reeves are mates are loyalty is likely to win over common sense.”
David Bamford, director of Future Energy Publishing, wrote: “Very well said, we need to act before it’s too late. Unite and the GMB need to ram home the above very clear message!”
#Oil #workers #call #Unite #disaffiliate #Labour #Daily #Business