GMB union backs shale gas
9 Jun 2015
The body representing UK shale gas developers yesterday signed an agreement with the GMB trade union to work together on the development of unconventional gas reserves.
UK Onshore Oil & Gas (UKOOG) signed a charter with GMB that commits both bodies to work together “to increase the public’s understanding about shale gas and the long history of hydraulic fracturing in Britain in order that communities can make informed choices about where we source our gas supplies”.
The agreement also focuses on the key areas of safety, skills and supply chain development.
The truth is we are going to be using gas including shale gas for a long time to come
GMB national secretary Gary Smith
“Natural gas from shale has the potential to generate many thousands of highly skilled well paid jobs,” said UKOOG chief executive Ken Cronin.
“Gas is used for heating and cooking in over 80% of the homes and workplaces in the country. Gas is also an important feedstock for the chemical industry, which employs tens of thousands of people in the North of England. It is essential for the economic well-being and the energy security of the UK that we get on with exploration to determine the extent of the gas resources we have in this country.”
GMB national secretary Gary Smith added: “The truth is we are going to be using gas including shale gas for a long time to come. Given these facts we need to honestly consider the moral and environmental issues about transporting gas, including shale gas, across oceans and continents and being increasingly dependent on gas from countries with regulatory and environmental standards lower than ours.”
Smith added that any debate over shale needed to be done in the context of national security, and that his union was ready to support the industry should it take off.
“GMB has a 126 years involvement in the gas industry,” he said.
“If the shale gas industry does take off we will bring all that experience to bear, to ensure the industry operates at the very highest standards in terms of the environment and Health and Safety. Integral to this is having a highly skilled workforce and we will work with the industry to make sure we have levels of skills that are absolutely second to none.”
The agreement was welcomed by Ineos, currently the third biggest owner of shale gas licenses in the UK.
“The GMB has always been forward looking in this area and understands the importance of a UK Shale gas industry for UK jobs and UK manufacturing,” said Ineos Shale chief executive Gary Haywood.
“We would call on other unions to follow the GMB’s lead and acknowledge the tremendous benefits that a safe and well regulated indigenous shale gas industry can offer.”
