The event was organised by Platform and supported by Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group as part of a year of trade union climate action. Click here for their website and resources.
Click HERE for more details of the event.
Speaking on behalf of ATUC Steve gave the following speech:
"I am here today to offer solidarity from the Aberdeen Trades Union Council which since 1868 has drawn together the workplace reps across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire north east Scotland to fight for workers' rights and social justice both at home and internationally.
"The Just Transition Campaign for North Sea workers and their communities is story of greed, power and corruption set against community solidarity, determination, love and hope.
“Since the 1992 Climate Change Declaration signed by 120 countries including the UK and USA, governments and multi national companies have known of the need to reduce climate change gases production to 1990 levels to avoid climate change induced disasters.
"Between 1992 and 2025 where were the just transition plans and programmes, the investment in renewables supply chains for wind, wave and solar power, the training for workers in these industries in their home communities?
"The UK Government was missing in action and today we will know if the UK Government is still missing in action.
"Between 1992 and 2025 the oil and gas industries have made obscene excessive profits by ignoring environmental costs like pollution which impact upon the health of local people from the Ogoni Delta to Mossmorran and Torry in Scotland causing multiple harms included reduced life expectancy.
"Workers pay, terms, conditions, health and safety are minimised in the quest for profits.
"In the North Sea UK Employment law stops three miles offshore thanks to a UK Government favour to these companies.
"At Grangemouth the offshore tax haven company has closed the petrochemical refinery taking away 500 direct jobs and 2,500 jobs in the wider supply chain.
"The impact on the 40 oil rigs that supplied this refinery is still not quantified. Their corporate slogan should be, "Profits over people".
"Taxes on the excessive profits are minimised, so surprise, surprise, Governments don't have the funds for winter fuel payments, health and care services, education and investi, ng in climate disaster resilient public services.
"People in Scotland and the rest of the UK want to be able to make informed choices about their own future about their workplaces, schools and communities.
"At the recent 125th annual Scottish Trade Union Congress the representatives of over 500,000 Scottish workers voted to resist the divide and rule tactics of big businesses, and their lackeys in some political parties and to campaign for regional just transition plans backed by 20 years funding for investment in growing Scottish manufacturing supply chains.
"All the workers across the UK need a Comprehensive Investment Programme to rebuild our workplaces, public services and communities to make them climate resilient.
"The ATUC supports the Climate Justice movement to campaign for the UK Government to put people before profits and invest in our climate resilient future and a Just Transition for the North Sea communities and their workers".
Following on from the rally, Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group has issued the following tools for activists to use:
