Unison Chief Slams 'Afterthought' Treatment of Public Sector Jobs

Unison general secretary Andrea Egan has accused ministers of treating NHS, education and care workers as an "afterthought" compared with the "massive political focus" on protecting North Sea oil and gas jobs. Egan leads the UK's biggest trade union, and she made the charge as the government's approval of the Jackdaw gasfield continues to fuel political controversy across the Labour movement and beyond.

Her comments landed weeks after the government gave the go-ahead to Jackdaw, following what the source describes as huge pressure from the fossil fuel industry and rightwing politicians in the UK and abroad. Climate campaigners, scientists and many Labour supporters reacted with anger, arguing that extracting more fossil fuels will escalate the climate crisis while doing nothing to cut bills, significantly improve energy security or halt the sector's long-term decline in jobs.

What did Egan actually say?

Egan drew a sharp line between the treatment of the two workforces. "There's no question it is vital for oil and gas workers to be guaranteed secure, well-paid jobs in the industries of the future," she said. "But public service workers, in contrast, often seem like an afterthought for ministers. What about the thousands of jobs cut in recent years across local government, the NHS and education? Care workers, nurses, teaching assistants."

She called the Jackdaw approval "a serious misstep from the government" and said it sent the wrong signal about the UK's climate commitments. Her prescription: ministers should create secure, well-paid renewable-sector jobs for oil and gas workers, and extend the same support to the millions of public sector employees who have absorbed severe cuts in recent years.

"It's time for the government to get its priorities straight: invest in clean energy, invest in the public services that communities rely on – to the benefit of us all," Egan said.

What happens with Rosebank?

A final government decision on the more controversial Rosebank oilfield is expected before the end of the year. After Wednesday's budget, which factored the Jackdaw project's approval into its forecast, the Guardian revealed that some Labour MPs were lobbying Andy Burnham and John Healey not to overrule energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh if she decided to block Rosebank. That lobbying effort signals how high the stakes now run inside the party over fossil fuel extraction.

Why are the unions split?

The UK's main trade unions don't agree on North Sea drilling:

• Unite and GMB, which represent many oil and gas workers, back more licences.
• Unison and the National Education Union oppose more drilling, arguing for long-term sustainable jobs and action on the climate crisis.

One shared concern among unions is that jobs in the rapidly growing renewables sector are often not unionised. That makes them less secure and worse paid than equivalent roles in oil and gas, undermining the promise of a just transition for workers moving across.

Where does Octopus Energy fit in?

Last week Unison announced a new recognition deal with Octopus Energy, the UK's largest energy company, known as a progressive organisation focused on renewable energy. The GMB had been attempting to gain recognition at Octopus first. The company said Unison "stood out for its commitment to the energy transition."

Egan framed the deal as a practical step toward her stated goal. "Unison is proud to be leading the way as the clean energy union. We urgently need more well-paid, unionised jobs and to transition away from fossil fuels at pace. This agreement is a step in the right direction on both counts," she said.

With Rosebank's fate due before year-end and union opinion divided, the Octopus agreement gives Unison a concrete answer to the argument that clean energy jobs can't match the pay and security of oil and gas. Expect that contrast to shape the coming fight over the North Sea's future.