Union leader Gary Smith has warned that Labour’s green policies are costing jobs and “hollowing out working class communities.” He has urged the government to halt “decarbonisation through deindustrialisation” and engage in an “honest debate” about the UK’s industrial future. Smith is concerned that the party’s environmental policies, designed to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net zero, will result in the loss of jobs in parts of the country that rely heavily on the manufacturing sector.
At the recent TUC conference, tensions between the political and industrial wings of the labour movement became apparent. The loss of jobs at the Port Talbot steel works has further highlighted concerns from Unite and the GMB unions, two of the UK’s largest unions. Although environment-friendly processes such as the “electric arc” furnace at Port Talbot will continue to be supported, traditional coke-fuelled furnaces will soon be closed and around 2,500 jobs will be lost out of an original 4,000.
Union leaders such as Smith fear for the future of British manufacturing, including shipbuilding in Belfast and Scotland’s only oil refinery in Grangemouth. Though business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has promised funding of £2.5bn to help secure a future for British steel, there is growing anxiety that Chinese-owned British Steel in Scunthorpe may not survive the winter, putting 2,500 jobs at risk. Some union leaders are concerned that the transition to a greener economy lacks a joined-up approach to industry which is exacerbating the impact on employment.
Labour has promised a wider industrial strategy, but some union leaders worry that this is not yet fully integrated into the green energy transition. Smith argues that while production and consumption of oil and gas in the UK may decrease, the need for other materials such as steel would remain constant. He questions whether environmental policies are being adequately scrutinised and whether the green revolution will be a job-creator or a job-killer.
Labour continues to face challenges as it strives to secure a greener future for the UK whilst demonstrating that it understands the concerns of unions, particularly around employment in traditional industries. The unions are calling for an “honest conversation” about how the transition to net zero impacts jobs, and what guaranteed measures are in place to protect workers
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