Union leaders warn workers have 'little faith' in Scottish Government energy strategy

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The country's leading trade union body has blasted the Scottish Government’s energy strategy on moving to a future beyond oil and gas.The STUC said workers had “little faith” in the approach and claimed it “fails” to map out a “just transition” away from fossil fuels.Ministers have been consulting on a future energy policy that meets the challenge of Scotland becoming a net zero nation by 2045.Part of it involves reducing the dependence on oil and gas, which contributes towards a warmer planet.But critics believe a rushed transition away from fossil fuels could leave thousands of workers on the scrapheap.The STUC, whose affiliates represent hundreds of thousands of workers, hit out at the Government strategy in a consultation response.They wrote: “For workers in the sector today, there can be little faith that the coming transition will be well-managed and protect their livelihoods based on this strategy.“The strategy fails to outline basic steps necessary to ensure a just transition for offshore oil and gas workers through declining production of North Sea oil and gas including funded transition support, training programmes, or job and skills audits.“The strategy is a continuation of the failed approach of prioritising inward investment and private ownership in the energy sector.“There is insufficient detail for how the Scottish Government will deliver on energy ambition while creating jobs and retaining benefits across communities in Scotland.”The STUC continued: “The strategy fails to meet its stated purpose and falls short of providing the concrete routemap necessary to deliver a just transition of Scotland’s energy system.”STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer: “We are committed to continuing to work with Government to