The RMT union has called on the UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak to use his Budget today to divert funds from Crown Estate’s recent offshore wind Round 4 leasing sale to a ‘Just Transition Fund’ for offshore workers and seafarers to re-train for jobs in renewable energy and other green growth sectors.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “We need a Budget for workers, especially the 14,000 in offshore oil and gas and maritime who lost their job in the pandemic whilst the Crown Estate was plotting with oil companies and others to bang up the rent for offshore wind farms.
“Under the current settlement, offshore developers will look to the international supply chain to boost profits, families will be hit with higher energy bills and the Queen could bill the taxpayer for a 154% pay rise.
“That injustice cannot be allowed to happen and RMT demand that the Chancellor give offshore oil and gas workers and seafarers a clear route to new jobs in offshore wind, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen production and decommissioning by reforming the Sovereign Grant, stripping Crown Estate of offshore wind leasing powers and creating an annual £220m Just Transition Fund.”
The Round 4 offshore wind leasing will generate £879m in option fee payments from successful developers for the Crown Estate.