GMB, the energy union, has responded to the Offshore
Wind Industry Council launching a £100m,10-year programme to
support the growth of UK businesses looking to capitalise on the
growth in offshore wind around the world.
Justin Bowden, GMB National Secretary,
said:
“There are no two ways about it, to date the majority
of the potential benefits from the boom in offshore wind, and
renewables in general, have passed the UK workforce and economy
by.
“Look no further than the yards lying idle in Fife as
contracts go offshore to Spain, Indonesia and the Middle
East.
“Securing decent jobs in the renewables industry and
its supply chain, and fairness in how decarbonisation costs are
met, is now paramount.
“For this to happen, the political decision-making
must not become separated from the economic consequences and the
question of who pays.
“GMB says Parliament must now set the rules around 5
key points:
"Firstly, establishing an official register of all
companies receiving public subsidies. No company registered
offshore in a tax haven can be eligible to be on the register or
paid subsidies. It must be clear who the beneficial owners of all
companies are and how much in subsidies they are paid each
year.
"Secondly, the percentage of the agreed supply chain
which must be sourced in the UK must be a binding and legally
enforceable condition of each project being awarded
subsidies.
"Third, the companies on the register building and
running projects, and all their contractors and sub-contractors,
must be covered by a new national recognition and collective
bargaining agreement encompassing all workers in the
sector.
"Fourth, to qualify for subsidies, all information on
the output and performance of all renewables energy facilities
must be available to organisations tasked by Parliament with
ensuring the energy grid systems are balanced and can deliver
secure, reliable energy in a cost effective manner.
"Fifth, the costs and subsidies to achieve
decarbonisation must come from progressive general taxation
(including corporation tax), not via the current systems of
adding costs to every household’s energy bills which
disproportionately hits the lowest paid workers and those least
able to pay.”
