{"id":10041,"date":"2016-09-27T16:57:09","date_gmt":"2016-09-27T15:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=10041"},"modified":"2016-09-28T18:14:57","modified_gmt":"2016-09-28T17:14:57","slug":"a-just-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=10041","title":{"rendered":"A just transition"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

This Tory Government and the coalition before it have a catalogue of failure – on the economy, on our National Health Service and on energy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The motion that I supported on behalf of Unite condemned the government for its failure to build a cohesive energy policy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This failure has resulted in a lack of balance on environmental concerns.\u00c2\u00a0 It means that fuel poverty isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t tackled, new jobs aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t created and existing jobs aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t secure.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Last year in our campaigning document \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Meeting the Climate Change Challenge \u00e2\u20ac\u201c we set out what we called a \u00e2\u20ac\u0098just transition\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hinkley Point<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s first nuclear power station for a generation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The much needed infrastructure investment in Hinkley Point and other such projects provides increased opportunities across the UK.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For the country to thrive our future depends on having the capacity to meet our energy needs.\u00c2\u00a0 We have to invest for the long-term.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Working with Labour we will make sure that investment includes a \u00e2\u20ac\u0098fair deal\u00e2\u20ac\u2122. 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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And, yes a fair deal for our planet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail, was speaking\u00c2\u00a0 in the energy debate. View her speech below:<\/p>\n