Letters to the Guardian have questioned the Unite union's stance on climate change, highlighting a perceived contradiction between its support for new North Sea oil and gas extraction and its leadership of walkouts over hot working conditions.
Walkouts Over Heat vs. Support for Fossil Fuels
Referring to mass walkouts of transport drivers in parts of London where temperatures reached 34C, John Harris was quoted as saying: "Everything is being led by the union Unite" (Andy Burnham has barely acknowledged the climate crisis. If only Britain’s workers had that luxury, 17 August).
Edward Jackson of Crediton, Devon, wrote that while the action makes perfect sense, it addresses one symptom of the climate crisis (heatwaves) rather than one of its primary causes (global heating due to burning fossil fuels).
"The irony is that Unite is also pressing the Burnham government to license the Rosebank oilfield and Jackdaw gasfield," Jackson wrote. "Maybe it’s time for both to join the dots between these two campaigns and realise they are incompatible."
Call for Focus on Renewables
Jackson argued that in the long-term interests of all, these North Sea hydrocarbons should stay where they are, and focus should instead be on the just transition of skills into the increasingly productive renewables economy.
Lack of Worker Protection in Extreme Heat
Alan Gray of Brighton praised John Harris for raising the fact that workers in the UK are given so little protection in extreme heat. Gray noted that the Guardian reported three years ago on air-conditioned jackets for workers in Japan (The fan jacket: the Japanese innovation keeping workers cool in extreme heat, 25 July 2023), and that this summer these jackets are being issued to street sweepers in Chinese cities.
"Europe is dragging its feet on recognising the reality of climate change and the mitigations needed," Gray wrote.
