Nuclear jobs boost

Unite has welcomed the government’s announcement of a multi-billion investment to build Sizewell C in Suffolk and the go ahead for small and modular reactors (SMRs).

The union strongly supports the government’s decision to make Rolls Royce the preferred bidder to build the small modular reactors (SMRs).

The deal is with the publicly-owned Great British Energy, and it is reported that Rolls-Royce SMR will build three SMR units in the UK, each generating enough electricity to power 1m homes, and support up to 3,000 construction jobs at its peak.  The first SMR is expected to be on the grid in around a decade.

Unite has been calling on the government to commit to Sizewell C for some time, arguing that a properly funded nuclear expansion programme will ensure energy resilience, drive forward industrial growth, and provide high-quality employment opportunities across the country.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This announcement is vital for jobs in construction and the energy sector. Unite has led the campaign for building Sizewell C and the development of SMRs. Workers will be relieved that the investment has finally been secured.

“The Sizewell C and SMR announcements must only be a first step towards serious and sustained investment in UK nuclear power to end the instability in our energy sector. The promise of small modular reactors must be backed alongside investment in fusion. The government also needs to commit to building a new nuclear power station at Wylfa.”

Unite will be demanding a commitment from the government that no infrastructure investments will be done on the cheap, and will not accept any attempt to cut costs by undermining pay, conditions, or safety standards. These projects must deliver well-paid, skilled, unionised jobs from day one.

Historically in the UK, major infrastructure construction projects have used exploitative employment models, with substandard wages and precarious contracts. 

Unite will expect full engagement with unions to ensure that workers’ voices are heard at every stage of this process. That means investment in apprenticeships, training, and the upskilling of the UK workforce to meet the demands of the future energy sector.

Unite has already signed three Solidarity Agreements with EDF and contractors that set out how Sizewell C will promote a strong safety culture while providing workers with high standards of health, safety and welfare services, including mental health services.

The current ongoing nuclear construction project at Hinkley Point C in Somerset has benefited from thousands of construction workers being represented by Unite, and the general secretary recently visited the site to talk to members about the issues they face and how the union continues to support them.

Unite’s national officer for construction Jason Poulter added: “As the major union at the UK’s other nuclear construction site at Hinkley Point, Unite is well placed to ensure that good, unionised jobs are created that pay fair wages and ensure work in good conditions.

“It is essential that we ensure this development at Sizewell benefits workers and communities as well as across the UK through skills security, not just shareholders.”

Unite has consistently campaigned to ensure the future of UK energy must be built on a foundation of good jobs, strong protections, and a commitment to a fair deal for workers.

By Keith Hatch