TUC plan would mean more than 38,000 new green jobs for the East Midlands over next 2 years

TUC plan would mean more than 38,000 new green jobs for the East Midlands over next 2 years

• TUC report sets out opportunities for a net zero carbon economy in the East Midlands
• East Midlands must not become a ‘flyover state’

A new TUC report published today (Friday) sets out the potential for regional strategy with direct input from workers to create new high-quality jobs on the path to net zero carbon emissions.

Figures commissioned by the TUC from Transition Economics show how many jobs would be created in the next two years in English regions and Wales as part of a national programme to fast-track investment in green infrastructure.

38,262 jobs would be directly created in the next two years in the East Midlands, with thousands more new jobs in supply chains likely to be supported in the region too.

The direct jobs include:

• 13,910 jobs building new social housing
• 8,359 jobs retrofitting social housing to higher environmental standards
• 9,953 jobs creating sustainable transport networks, with expanded rail, electric car charging points and more cycle lanes and pedestrian routes
• 1,092 jobs in reforestation

The report ’Voice and place: how to plan fair and successful paths to net zero emissions’ is based on research in five UK nations and regions that draws on the expertise of local union reps on the challenges and opportunities in their area.

The results are presented as a series of case studies for Northern England, North West England, the Midlands, Wales, and Yorkshire and Humberside, with recommendations for regional and national policy.

While each case study reveals specific opportunities and challenges, the findings collectively demonstrate the importance of:

Place-based strategy: Plans must be tailored for the industry, culture and geography of each region. In the East Midlands there are prime opportunities to:

• Accelerate the upgrade of the rail system, through electrification of the Midland Mainline and maximising the connectivity afforded by HS2
• Improve the travel network with charging points for electric vehicles and plans for pedestrian and cycling schemes
• Build high-quality social housing with low carbon technologies; and retrofit social housing and public buildings
• Harness the East Midlands existing manufacturing expertise to support the development of more high-skill, high-productivity green jobs by expanding the East Midlands role in low-carbon technologies. For example, the redevelopment of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station with a new clean energy focus.

However, the lack of any devolution risks the region being overlooked in terms of political and investment decisions. All stakeholders across the region need to come together so the region can act as one voice and punch its weight for attracting investment.

Workers’ voice: Workers had no say in the transition from traditional industry to an economy based on services in the 1980s. That mis-handled transition led to long-term unemployment and poor-quality jobs, and to the massive erosion of the UK’s manufacturing base. That mistake must not be made again. Companies should make Transition Agreements with unions covering job security, re-training, re-deployment and the protection of decent term and conditions.

Regional recovery and transition panels: The UK needs a social partnership approach to reach the net zero goal and to recover from the pandemic. An East Midlands wide ‘recovery and transition panel’ should be established in tandem with a ‘UK national council for recovery and transition’. It should include local government, unions, employers, Job Centre Plus, experts on green industry and the environment and civic partners, working together on plans to reach net zero, that can win strong public support.

Lee Barron, TUC regional secretary for the Midlands said:

“The East Midlands has huge economic strengths. Our central location, our fantastic universities and our leading role in advanced manufacturing puts us in a strong position to secure growth and good jobs.  And we can already see how HS2 provides us with the opportunity for growth and economic renewal.

“But this economic renewal must put workers at the heart of its programme.  When the coalfields of the East Midlands were closed in the 1990s whole communities were thrown on the scrap heap. We can’t afford to make those mistakes again.

“The redevelopment of Ratcliiffe-on-Soar power station, allied to the rail hub and the HS2 Toton station, is a great example of how we can move towards a net-zero future, complete with good jobs, good skills and good opportunities for all communities.

“But the lack of devolution in the East Midlands is a problem. We need our local knowledge and expertise to meet our region’s needs and builds on our strengths. And we need a stronger voice nationally and internationally. We are the beating heart of the UK, we cannot be treated like the ‘flyover’ states while Westminster thinks only of the Northern Powerhouse.

“A key part of that local expertise is in our workforce. Union reps in the East Midlands have a deep understanding of the opportunities in our area and smart ideas about the way ahead. And they are keen to work in partnership with industry, local government and the local community to build stronger businesses that offer decent green jobs.

“If workers have a genuine say, plans can be agreed with government and business that provide job security and protect job quality. That’s going to win community backing too, so progress will be both fairer and faster. And we’ll all become proud when our generation delivers a major upgrade to the East Midlands, and to Britain, an industrial transformation that improves everyone’s quality of life.”