At the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) conference yesterday, a key cross-union body voted against further support for nuclear energy.
Key energy unions indicated that they would either abstain or not support a proposal from the Prospect and GMB unions, committing to nuclear power as part of a Just Transition to a net zero Scotland.
A statement from both unions read: “We understand that amongst our broad movement there are different views, it is hugely disappointing however when unions embedded in the nuclear industry feel unable to support their own members in that industry, especially those working to design and build these new technologies.
“As a result, Prospect and GMB have withdrawn our motion and we will be engaging with our nuclear industry colleagues on how we address this damaging issue.”
The motion in favour of nuclear power had previously gained support from the TUC and Labour Party conferences.
Andy Prendergast, GMB national secretary, said: “It is a complete failure of fellow energy unions to understand the critical importance of the sector – they are pandering to a political class that’s increasingly detached from the real world.
“GMB is proud of our nuclear heritage - we recognise the valuable work our members do in providing clean energy - that in turn reduces our reliance on imports and exposure to swings in international energy markets.
“Coming so soon after long awaited announcements on new nuclear builds, the decision not to back the sector by other unions is a kick in the teeth – but it won’t change our position.”
Meanwhile, a union that represents council workers is preparing to ballot for industrial action amongst “targeted groups” of staff as part of an ongoing row over pay.
Unite confirmed it was looking to stage a vote after a consultative ballot found that 91% of its members would be prepared to take action.
It comes after unions representing local government staff rejected the 2% pay increase that had been offered to them by council bosses.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham insisted that the local authority organisation Cosla “should hang its head in shame over the derisory offer put to our members which was rejected outright”.
Graham said: “Inflation and the cost of living is spiralling upwards yet local government workers are being treated with contempt.
“Unite’s members in local government right across Scotland have their union’s full backing in their fight for decent pay.”
Unite said it was “now preparing to ballot targeted groups of local government workers in the coming weeks in the escalating dispute over pay”.
Unite industrial officer Wendy Dunsmore said: “Local government workers are the unsung heroes of the pandemic – the 2% offer on the table is nearly five times behind the current cost of living, and that’s a disgrace.
“Let’s remember that the majority of these workers are low paid, and female.”
She continued: “The Scottish Government has starved local authorities of adequate funding for more than a decade but Unite won’t allow our members to be starved of a fair and decent pay rise.
“It is time Cosla fought hard for those hard-working workers who are now suffering in-work poverty.”
A Cosla spokesperson responded: “We remain in ongoing discussions with our trade union colleagues in relation to pay.”
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