The government should give workers in health, education and care the same political attention it gives North Sea oil and gas employees, the leader of the UK’s largest trade union has said. Andrea Egan, Unison’s general secretary, argued that protecting public service jobs had received too little attention despite cuts across those sectors in recent years.
Egan said securing well-paid employment in future industries for oil and gas workers was essential. But she questioned why ministers appeared to treat public service employees as an “afterthought”, pointing to thousands of jobs lost across local government, the NHS and education. Care workers, nurses and teaching assistants were among those she highlighted.
Her comments followed renewed debate over North Sea production after the government approved the Jackdaw gasfield. That decision came amid intense pressure from the fossil fuel industry and rightwing politicians in Britain and overseas. Egan criticised the approval, saying it undermined the message the government was sending about its climate commitments.
Climate campaigners, scientists and many Labour supporters also opposed the Jackdaw decision. They argue that further fossil fuel extraction will worsen the climate crisis without lowering bills, substantially strengthening energy security or stopping the sector’s long-term decline in employment. A final decision on the more contentious Rosebank oilfield is expected before the end of 2026.
Wednesday’s budget included an assumption that Rosebank would be approved in its forecast. The Guardian subsequently reported that some Labour MPs were pressing Andy Burnham and John Healey to let energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh’s decision stand if she chose to reject the project.
Egan urged ministers to prioritise secure, well-paid renewable energy jobs for people working in oil and gas. She also called for comparable support for the millions employed in public services, which have faced severe cuts. Her appeal linked investment in clean energy with funding for the services communities depend on.
Britain’s major unions disagree over whether further North Sea drilling should be allowed. Unite and GMB, both of which represent many oil and gas employees, support additional licences. Unison and the National Education Union oppose expanded drilling as part of their push to address climate change and establish sustainable employment over the long term.
A concern for unions is that employment in the expanding renewables industry is often not unionised, leaving jobs less secure or less well paid than those in oil and gas. Last week, however, Unison announced a recognition agreement with Octopus Energy, the UK’s largest energy company, which focuses on renewable energy. GMB had also sought recognition at the company.
Octopus said Unison “stood out for its commitment to the energy transition”. Egan described the agreement as progress towards both improving employment conditions in renewables and moving away from fossil fuels. She said more well-paid jobs with union representation were urgently needed as that transition accelerated.
