An energy industry worker’s view of Unite the Union’s ‘No ban without a plan’ campaign
As the global energy landscape shifts towards sustainability, the role of workers in industries like oil and gas has become more critical than ever. A worker-led transition to renewable energy sources offers a pathway that addresses environmental concerns while safeguarding workers’ rights and livelihoods. Socialists say, this transition should prioritise collective ownership, democratic control of resources, and equitable wealth distribution. Unfortunately, this is lacking in Unite the Union’s campaign “No Ban, No Plan.”
Workers’ control
A worker-led transition in the energy sector should advocate for the direct involvement of workers in decision-making processes. Socialists campaign for the big energy companies to be nationalised, with democratic working-class control and management, so that the planning and execution of energy projects is in the interests of the working class.
As I contemplate our industry’s future and hear the Labour Party talk of GB Energy and a renewable future, I see Port Talbot steelworks shutting down. It has been identified that the renewable industry will need 20% more steel by 2026. Would any sane working person not link these industries together? I wonder what Keir Starmer’s father, a toolmaker, would say about this situation!
Workers’ skills can be preserved, with retraining programmes as needed, to equip workers for jobs in renewable energy sectors, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. These programmes should be designed and managed by workers’ unions and representatives to ensure they meet the workforce’s real needs, not those of the oil barons.
Within this framework, shop stewards in the oil and gas industry play a pivotal role. These elected representatives act as the workforce’s voice, negotiating with management and advocating for workers’ rights. In a worker-led transition, shop stewards, representing workers and accountable to them, would be at the forefront of ensuring the shift to renewable energy does not come at the expense of workers’ livelihoods.
For instance, a shop steward in an oil refinery could push for creating a transition committee composed of workers, including engineers and environmental experts. This would put us on a pathway towards workers’ control, This committee could develop a comprehensive plan to gradually reduce oil production while ramping up renewable energy projects. The steward would ensure this plan includes provisions for job security, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
Alternative plans
A nationalised oil industry facing declining fossil fuel demand, with active participation from its workforce, led by dedicated shop stewards, would be able to diversify its operations. They might propose converting a portion of their refineries into biofuel production facilities while also investing in offshore wind farms.
Look at Grangemouth, for example, and INEOS, owned by capitalist Jim Ratcliffe, notorious for attacks on oil refinery workers. Does he consider any alternative to closing Grangemouth? No, he does not. He is too busy preventing the catering staff from sitting with the players at the Manchester United training ground – something the club’s most successful manager, Alex Ferguson, a former apprentice toolmaker and shop steward, insisted on. Ratcliffe is only concerned with profit and does not think twice about the workers and communities left behind.
A worker-led transition underscores the importance of democratic control over economic resources. It challenges the capitalist model, where decisions are made by a few at the top, often ignoring the impact on workers and the environment. Instead, it proposes a system where those who produce the wealth have a say in how it is used and distributed.
This transition is not merely about changing the energy source but about fundamentally altering the power dynamics in the workplace. It envisions a future where workers are no longer disposable commodities but active participants in building a sustainable and just system. This should be included in any campaigns put forward by Unite and the other trade unions in the industry.
