The Scottish Government's opposition to nuclear power is "leaving Scotland’s workers behind", according to the GMB Union.
In a letter to the Energy Minister Michael Matheson, the union urged the Scottish National Party and Scottish Greens coalition to bid for the jobs and funding available as Rolls Royce builds a new fleet of small modular reactors.
Rolls Royce has written to several of England’s regional development bodies and the Welsh Government asking them to pitch for the manufacturing site, promising investment of up to £200m and the creation of up to 200 direct jobs.
Drew Duffy, GMB senior organiser, said: "Nuclear workers and GMB members across Scotland are in danger of once again being left behind due to the Scottish Government’s continued opposition to nuclear power.
"EDF sites at Hunterston and Torness have skilled workforces who now face their lives being uprooted as their jobs move to the rest of the UK where new nuclear opportunities are being seized.
"This is not about party politics; this is about protecting the jobs and incomes of Scottish workers, meeting Scotland’s energy needs and achieving net zero through a real just transition," he continued, adding: "The Scottish Government needs to outline if it's opposed to these jobs being in Scotland.
"If not, then they must begin immediate discussions with Rolls Royce to bid for the factory and the jobs it will bring."
A Scottish Government spokesperson responded: "The Scottish Government is absolutely clear in our opposition to the building of new traditional nuclear fission energy plants in Scotland under current technologies.
"We believe that significant growth in renewables, storage, hydrogen and carbon capture provides the best pathway to net zero by 2045, and will deliver the decarbonisation we need to see across industry, heat and transport.
"The transition to net zero will offer many new opportunities for highly skilled, well paid jobs across the energy sector for industry experts, apprentices and graduates.
"We recognise that planning will be crucial to ensure that economic and social opportunities from the transition are not missed," the statement continued. "Our National Just Transition Planning framework sets out the consistent, ambitious approach we will take to developing transition plans.
"We have committed to delivering our first Just Transition Plan as part of the forthcoming refreshed Scottish Energy Strategy, and will work in partnership with businesses, workers and communities to ensure this provides the certainty needed for investment in our net zero journey."
Separately, unions have joined with other organisations to demand the First Minister scraps proposed changes to ScotRail ticket offices.
In a letter to Nicola Sturgeon, they outlined their concerns about “damaging proposals” to close offices or reduce opening hours.
The letter, which has been signed by leading unions including the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, Aslef, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, Unite and the Scottish Trades Union Congress, was sent on Wednesday – the day public consultation on the plans closes.
Abellio ScotRail has been consulting on plans to reduce ticket office opening hours at 117 stations, and the closure of three ticket offices.
The letter read: “We believe these proposed cuts will worsen passenger service, accessibility, safety and security, and will hinder Scotland’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Other groups to have signed the letter include Disabled People Against Cuts, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Inclusion Scotland, the Scottish Pensioners’ Forum, the Scottish Women’s Convention, We Own It, Bring Back British Rail and Get Glasgow Moving.
The letter continues: “Already, disabled people are less likely to use the railways and these substantial cuts would worsen accessibility by significantly reducing the times that disabled and elderly passengers could guarantee that staff will be present at the station.
“The proposals would also lead to a worsening of the quality of services available to passengers at the times when it is proposed the ticket offices will be closed.”
The letter also highlights how the proposed cuts are at odds with the Scottish Government’s climate change targets and “will deter passengers from Scotland’s railway at a time when we should be encouraging passengers to switch to rail”.
It adds: “With just weeks to go until the Scottish Government is running the ScotRail franchise directly in public ownership, we call on you to scrap the proposed cuts to ScotRail ticket offices and instead commit to investing in an affordable, accessible, reliable and properly staffed rail network for Scotland.”
Transport Scotland has been contacted for comment.
Earlier this week, transport workers marched through Edinburgh to protest against rising fares and plans to close ticket offices.
Members of the RMT also voiced their opposition to Project Neptune, a review which could reportedly lead to routes on Scotland’s ferry network being privatised.
Union members carried flags and banners as they marched from Edinburgh Waverley station to Bute House, the First Minister’s official residence.
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