Latest editorial
An oil platform standing amongst other rigs that have been left in the Cromarty Firth near Invergordon in the Highlands of Scotland, February 15, 2016
A SKILLS passport to support workers in the transition away from fossil fuels will be introduced by the next Labour government.
The concept of an energy skills passport to enable qualifications gained by workers in the offshore oil and gas industry becoming fully transferable to new greener industries had been set out in the UK government’s 2021 North Sea Transition Deal after concerted lobbying from offshore trade unions to preserve jobs and skills.
Since then, concerns over the future of as many as 100,000 jobs connected to North Sea oil and gas production as the country transitions from fossil fuels has continued to grow — and after being championed by unions including RMT and Unite, as well as socialist MSP for the North East Mercedes Villalba — the SNP Scottish government adopted the policy in 2022.
As fossil fuels have had their day, JOSIE MIZEN makes it clear that it is now the government’s responsibility to initiate the transition to alternative employment in a manner that is organised, efficient and effective
