Energy conference: ‘ Be proud of what you have achieved ’

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea opened the union’s first in-person energy conference in three years today telling delegates: “You should be proud of what you have achieved. You’ve faced so much adversity in the past few years. But you’ve faced it together. “Although energy is relatively small compared to some of the other service groups it definitely punches above its weight and has a massive impact across all the other sectors in the union.” She went on to talk of the energy crisis and the effect it was having not only on consumers but also the energy workforce. She said: “Our members’ livelihoods were sacrificed to pay homage to the ‘supposed’ benefits of market forces, that we were told, would drive energy prices lower.” Instead, the Conservative policy meant that energy companies “privatised their profits, paid themselves handsomely, and mutualised the losses when things got difficult.” She concluded that, “this crisis exposes our government’s lack of a credible energy policy in the UK.” After Ms McAnea’s speech, conference started on its order of business, addressing a motion on increasing diversity within energy, submitted by the national black members committee. Patrick Yu (pictured) moved the motion, asking delegates to “Picture someone working in the energy sector,” adding “you are likely to mentally summon up an image of a white middle-aged male. “While the situation is improving,” he continued, “it’s not cha...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article 2022 Energy Service Group Conference Source Type: news