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Net Zero Watch has welcomed robust comments by GMB Union leader, Gary Smith, who has warned that Net Zero policies are “hollowing out working class communities”. The remarks came as Tata Steel announced 2,500 job losses through the closure of two of the last remaining blast furnaces, meaning the UK will be the first major industrialised economy without the ability to produce virgin steel – potentially critical for defence and other high-grade industrial uses. Instead, new electric arc furnaces are supposed produce recycled steel, albeit supporting far fewer jobs and producing a more limited range of steel grades. Gary Smith told the BBC: This was a mess created under the Tories...but let's be under no illusions… Thousands of jobs are going to go, a community is going to be hollowed out. We're going to see huge reductions in our carbon emissions, but at what price?”
The Unite Union also voiced their concerns about the impact of Ed Miliband’s Net Zero policies, in particular in the North Sea, where many high paying working class jobs depend on the Oil and Gas sector. Their leader Sharon Graham said: Right now there is talk of a 'just transition' but in reality 30,000 workers in the North sea are on a jobs cliff edge. Make no mistake - Unite will not stand by and watch those workers becoming the miners of our generation.”
These remarks are the most high-profile critical statements that major unions have ever made concerning the impact of Net Zero. Net Zero Watch director Andrew Montford said: The threat Net Zero represents to workforces has been clear for many years. A more robust tone from union leaderships is to be welcomed. We can only pray that it’s not too late.”
And Mr Montford warned that ever-rising electricity prices are likely to make the new steel plants uncompetitive: UK industrial electricity prices have been rising for 20 years, ever since we started installing windfarms, and that trend will continue. The planned arc furnaces may already be dead in the water.
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