Andrea Egan, general secretary of Unison, the UK's largest trade union, has accused the government of neglecting public sector workers while lavishing political attention on North Sea oil and gas employment. According to The Guardian, Egan criticised the approval of the Jackdaw gas field as a "serious misstep" that signals weakness on climate commitments, and called for ministers to redirect their focus towards creating sustainable jobs in renewable energy and properly funding public services.
"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," Egan 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."
The Jackdaw gas field received government approval on 21 October, with the North Sea Transition Authority granting production consent. According to World Oil, the project is expected to create 27 new jobs and protect around 270 existing positions, while contributing an estimated £2.9bn to the economy. The government stated that gas could begin flowing by the end of October 2026.
However, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from climate campaigners and trade unions opposed to further fossil fuel extraction. Egan's comments reflect a broader division among UK unions on North Sea drilling policy. While Unite and the GMB, which represent many oil and gas workers, support additional licences to protect employment in the sector, Unison and the National Education Union oppose further drilling as part of a strategy to create long-term sustainable jobs and address the climate crisis.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has stated that Jackdaw gas will not reduce energy bills this winter. According to BBC News, the field will supply less than 3 per cent of the UK's total gas needs, and at peak production is expected to add only about 6 per cent to domestic gas output.
Why is the public sector being overlooked?
Egan argues that the government's emphasis on protecting North Sea jobs contrasts sharply with its treatment of public sector employment. She highlighted the cumulative effect of cuts across local government, the NHS, and education in recent years, suggesting that ministers have failed to match their commitment to oil and gas workers with equivalent support for those in essential public services.
The concern reflects a wider anxiety among unions that renewable energy jobs, while growing rapidly, often lack the union representation and employment protections that characterise the oil and gas sector. This creates a risk that workers transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy could face lower wages and less secure conditions.
What is Unison doing to address renewable energy jobs?
Unison announced a new recognition deal last week with the UK's largest energy company, demonstrating a commitment to securing unionised employment in the renewable sector. The union described the agreement as an important step towards establishing well-paid, secure jobs in clean energy. Egan said the deal represented progress on both creating good employment and facilitating the transition away from fossil fuels.
"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."
What is the government's position on future North Sea projects?
The Jackdaw approval follows a complex legal history. The field's original 2022 consent was halted after a court challenge ruled it unlawful because it failed to account for emissions from burning the extracted gas. The renewed approval came after the UK Supreme Court's 2024 Finch ruling, which requires assessments to include emissions from the eventual use of oil and gas.
A separate decision on the Rosebank oilfield remains outstanding. The government is expected to make a final determination before the end of the year, though reports indicate the decision has been delayed. Some Labour MPs have been lobbying senior figures including Andy Burnham and John Healey to persuade Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh to block Rosebank if she determines it should not proceed.
What happens next?
Jackdaw is scheduled to begin supplying gas by the end of October 2026. The government's decision on Rosebank is anticipated before the year closes, though no firm date has been announced. Egan has called on ministers to prioritise investment in clean energy infrastructure and properly fund public services, arguing this approach would benefit communities more broadly than continued fossil fuel extraction.
"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."
