A powerful coalition of trade unions and environmental organisations has united to call for £1.9 billion in emergency funding to support North Sea oil and gas workers, urging the UK Government to provide robust backing for a just transition into green jobs.
On Wednesday morning, representatives from several unions and 65 climate groups-including Greenpeace, Unite, the National Union of Rail and Maritime and Transport Workers, the Public and Commercial Services Union, Aberdeen’s Trades Union Councils, and campaigners from Uplift, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Oil Change International, and Extinction Rebellion-staged a rally outside Parliament.
They demanded that Chancellor Rachel Reeves commit to a comprehensive support package for oil and gas workers, ensuring their livelihoods are protected as the UK accelerates its shift towards renewable energy.
The coalition’s proposal outlines a targeted allocation of the £1.9 billion:
- £1.1 billion per year: To develop permanent, local jobs in public and community-owned manufacturing.
- £440 million annually: For investment in ports, supporting the infrastructure needed for renewable energy projects.
- £355 million per year: To establish a dedicated training fund for offshore oil and gas workers, with industry match-funding to help workers retrain for green jobs.
The call for emergency funding comes amid a wave of job losses in high-emitting sectors, including recent redundancies at the Scunthorpe steel plant, Tata Steel’s Port Talbot facility, and the Grangemouth oil refinery.
These events have intensified national debate about ensuring a fair and just transition for workers and communities reliant on fossil fuel industries.
Mel Evans, climate team leader at Greenpeace UK, warned against leaving workers’ futures in the hands of private oil and gas companies, accusing them of prioritising shareholder profits over investment in renewable jobs and retraining.
“If [the Chancellor] fails to act, she leaves their livelihoods at the mercy of greedy oil bosses and will undermine community confidence in the transition to renewable energy,” Evans said.
Claire Peden, campaign team lead at Unite the Union, stressed the need for a “real, robust plan that guarantees good, secure jobs for oil and gas workers as part of the energy transition.”
She highlighted that 30,000 jobs could be at risk by 2030 if the government does not intervene, adding, “Climate change is an urgent crisis, but it must not be working people who bear the brunt. A just transition needs to be a workers’ transition: no one must be left behind”.
The rally saw support from Labour, SNP, and Green Party politicians, reflecting cross-party recognition of the need for government action.
The coalition’s message is clear: without decisive intervention, workers and communities in the North Sea and other high-emitting sectors could face significant hardship as the UK moves to decarbonise its economy.
The Treasury has been contacted for comment on the coalition’s demands.