A just transition

This Tory Government and the coalition before it have a catalogue of failure – on the economy, on our National Health Service and on energy.

The motion that I supported on behalf of Unite condemned the government for its failure to build a cohesive energy policy.

This failure has resulted in a lack of balance on environmental concerns.  It means that fuel poverty isn’t tackled, new jobs aren’t created and existing jobs aren’t secure.

At a time when environment concerns should be confronted, instead of investing in renewable energy the government cut its support to the sector.

Unite along with many others supports a balanced energy policy that provides security of energy supply. To do this we have to invest in carbon capture and storage and nuclear power.

Last year in our campaigning document – Meeting the Climate Change Challenge – we set out what we called a ‘just transition’.

It’s a transition that recognises that our role as a trade union is to protect and support our members, their families and communities in the industries affected.

Hinkley Point

After a period of uncertainty because of government dithering, the decision to approve the go-ahead for Hinkley Point has been made. And Unite members are keen to start work on building the country’s first nuclear power station for a generation.

Hinkley Point will herald an economic boost for the West Country, creating thousands of skilled jobs – including 500 much-needed good quality apprenticeships in the construction phase alone.

We have seen over recent years the growth of insecure jobs and precarious working so what a change it is to know that young men and women will have the opportunity to earn while they learn.

The much needed infrastructure investment in Hinkley Point and other such projects provides increased opportunities across the UK.

We, and Labour, will press the Government, EDF, and the contractors to make maximum use of British-made materials – such as steel – so that the benefits flow into the wider economy.

Unite – and the other trade unions involved – secured a binding, ground-breaking agreement for decent working conditions and employment practices including transparent employment so that any suspicion of blacklisting can be nipped in the bud.

For the country to thrive our future depends on having the capacity to meet our energy needs.  We have to invest for the long-term.

Working with Labour we will make sure that investment includes a ‘fair deal’. By that we mean a fair deal on jobs, a fair deal on pay, a fair deal on skills, a fair deal on diversity, that leaves no one behind — a fair deal for our communities.

And, yes a fair deal for our planet.

Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail, was speaking  in the energy debate. View her speech below: