Coalition of unions and climate groups give chancellor urgent letter

This morning (9) unions, including PCS, and climate groups joined forces to demand funding for a just transition in the energy sector. Representatives from 60 groups rallied at the Treasury to deliver an urgent letter to chancellor Rachel Reeves. The coalition included Unite the Union, RMT, PCS, Scottish TUC, Greenpeace, Uplift, Platform, Extinction Rebellion, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Oil Change International and others.

The letter points to the government’s own energy and environmental commitments. For a just and equitable energy transition, there must be a ring-fenced funding package of £1.9 billion with further funding every year until 2030. It also calls for an end to prioritising shareholder profits over affordable energy, adequate public investment and job creation in UK training and manufacturing.

The Budget will be delivered on 30 October and it is vital that the government uses it to address the urgent issues.

PCS assistant general secretary John Moloney said:

“It is vitally important that the climate change movement and unions work together to ensure a just transition to a net zero economy. It was heartening that more than 60 climate groups and unions came together today to campaign for funding for a transitional package for the workers of the North Sea oil and gas fields.”

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