GMB Warns: “Learn Lessons From BiFab”

GMB Warns: “Learn Lessons From BiFab” As Political Debate Ramps Up Over Green Recovery

GMB has today (Tuesday 10 November) warned politicians to “learn the lessons from BiFab” if Britain is to harness the economic and employment opportunities needed to drive a post-COVID green recovery.

The trade union’s call follows the publication of the Labour Party’s “Green Economic Recovery” policy report and comes ahead of the UK Government’s “Made in Britain” energy sector announcement later this week.

Meanwhile, the future of BiFab’s fabrication yards in Fife and Lewis remain on the brink following the Scottish Government’s decision to withdraw financial guarantees supporting the manufacture of eight turbine jackets for the £2 billion Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind project.

GMB Scotland Organiser Hazel Nolan said: “Politicians can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of the last decade, the promises of “green jobs revolutions” and “just transitions” while the jobs of the future are exported to the rest of the world.

“Learn the lessons from BiFab – ten years ago Scotland was taken in by talk of a “Saudi Arabia of Renewables” and 28,000 full time jobs in offshore wind but today supply chain yards lie mothballed because of a failure to properly plan, invest and support the sector.

“Tens of thousands of GMB members across the energy sector are watching closely, they don’t want to hear about promises of jam tomorrow while politicians promote the discontinuation of their existing jobs and industries with no credible Plan B in place.”

ENDS

Contact: GMB Scotland Communications on 07976 447077.

Notes to Editors:

“Labour’s Green Economic Recovery”, National Policy Forum 2020, published Tuesday 10 November 2020, accessible at: <<https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/GER-10.11docx.pdf>>

“Lift-off for the Green Industrial Revolution”, first published in Financial Mail on Sunday, Sunday 8 November 2020, accessible at: << https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-8924115/Lift-GREEN-Industrial-Revolution.html>>