The jobs crisis engulfing the North Sea can no longer go unchecked. Under current policy up to 1000 offshore jobs could go every month over the next 3-4 years. The knock on effect to our refineries and terminals directly connected to the North Sea, all of which support thousands of local jobs in local communities, is proving equally destructive.

Offshore energy workers are clear: stop promising a “Just Transition” tomorrow while our sector is in crisis today. We are a distinct, established industry, producing the oil and gas that the UK relies on now.

We support government action to build a strong domestic manufacturing base for renewables. We support renewable power - CCUS, wind, tidal, hydrogen - and the creation of good jobs that benefit workers and communities. But these are separate industries in their own right.

Until they are properly scaled and offer comparable terms and conditions, we reject narratives that frame oil & gas as the “dirty” side of the coin, with renewables presented as the “clean” side.

THE NORTH SEA JOBS CRISIS MUST END NOW

A complex mix of fiscal and industrial policy at UK level, including the ban on new licences, are being cited as reasons for the North Sea Jobs Crisis. With no credible plan for jobs, it’s time to take a new approach that protects jobs, communities and our energy security.

We are aware the most significant powers regarding Energy Policy remain reserved to Westminster. However, we want to see our politicians at Holyrood take a clear position on protecting jobs and communities.

In particular we are looking for:

• Which political parties will back Offshore Workers and ensure that The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) and Offshore Energy UK (OEUK) support the delivery of a No Compulsory Redundancy Pledge and associated policies via negotiation with Unite.
• Detail how parties plan to advocate for and actively pursue change to Westminster policies that are hastening the decline of the North Sea and our wider Oil & Gas industry, pushing workers and communities off a cliff edge. As a show of intent, we would expect any plans to include support for pushing ahead with the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields.

Today we are inviting you to join us in standing up for Offshore Energy Workers and tell politicians, no matter the colour of their rosette, that:

THE MEN & WOMEN WHO DO THE DIFFICULT AND OFTEN DANGEROUS WORK THAT POWERS MODERN CIVILISATION DESERVE BETTER

Sign the petition, show your support for our energy workers today