Thousands of energy jobs at risk

“Tens of thousands” of jobs are at stake in the energy sector if the government does not act, says general union Unite. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham says the debate on soaring energy prices has, until now, ignored “the coming jobs crisis”.

Last month, energy supplier OVO announced plans to cut 2,000 jobs. And during 2021, more than 30 energy firms went bust resulting in hundreds of job losses. Research by Unite suggests that as the energy crisis escalates this year, jobs losses in the sector will rise exponentially.

Unite estimates that in the next six months some leading energy firms are contemplating drastic job cuts combined with additional wage cuts and attacks on terms and conditions, like pension payments.

High fuel prices also affect big energy consumers like the steel industry and pharmaceuticals, resulting in a domino effect and a spiralling of “tens of thousands” of job losses.

“We need the government to intervene with a support programme to save jobs for the industry, and we need it now,” Graham said.

Unite is strongly critical of the total lack of government consultation with unions on the crisis to date. The union believes any support programme for the industry has to be introduced with stringent assessments of business circumstances, including past profits and dividend payments, before any government loans or grants are made.