Fair Work Charter is ‘blueprint’ for creation of good jobs in renewables

The government has announced that companies seeking to participate in future auctions for offshore wind contracts will now be required to sign up to a new Fair Work Charter.

The Fair Work Charter, was developed jointly between industry and trade unions, will ensure that the offshore wind sector gets early access to some of the benefits granted by the Government’s landmark Employment Rights Act.

This includes providing trade unions with better access to workplaces and opportunities to engage with workers, as well as clear standards on health and safety in the workplace.

This boost for workers’ rights paves the way towards trade union recognition in offshore wind companies, and build towards comprehensive agreements between developers and trade unions in the future, which could include commitments on pay, apprenticeships, and inclusive workplaces.

Full details of the Fair Work Charter can be found here.

Sue Ferns, Prospect Senior Deputy General Secretary, responding to the publication of the interim Fair Work Charter for offshore wind, said:

“For too long there has been a stark difference between the quality of the jobs in the emerging renewables sector when compared to traditional forms of energy generation and offshore oil and gas. This Fair Work Charter is a welcome step in addressing the discrepancy and will lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive agreement in future.

“If the public are going to get behind the drive to decarbonise the energy sector then they need to start seeing the good quality jobs which have been promised, especially in coastal communities which often miss out on economic opportunities.

“The Charter provides a blueprint for creating those good jobs and we must build on the precedent it sets.”