All photos: Alamy
Alamy
n By Keith Hatch
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.
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.”
ensure safety standards are met, genuine training opportunities are delivered and highly skilled workers are appropriately rewarded for their endeavours.”
As well as the Sizewell announcement, Unite strongly supported the government’s decision to make Rolls-Royce the preferred bidder to build the small modular reactors or 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.
SMRs are smaller and quicker to build than traditional nuclear plants, with the government expecting costs to come down as units are rolled out, enabling the UK to be home to one of Europe’s first small modular reactor fleets.
The first SMR is expected to be on the grid in around a decade.
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The announcement confirming the funding was welcomed in the region. Unite’s London and Eastern senior construction officer, Vince Passfield said, “Unite welcomes the government’s funding announcement and the commitments made to deliver this prestigious project, which we hope goes some way towards filling the construction industry skills shortage, together with creating thousands of local employment opportunities.”
Claire Lees, Unite regional officer added, “Unite already has a significant presence across Sizewell. As the lead union for construction, we aim to build upon our success at Hinkley Point C, working again with EDF and the contractors to
Unite EC member for construction, Stuart Grice, said, “The announcement is very good news for construction jobs across the East Midlands. Unite needs to be there on site from the first digger bucket hitting the ground to final hand over.
“Construction workers on this site deserve the best union representation like those working at Hinkley Point C and Sellafield and those at Rolls- Royce building the reactor.
“Unite has been calling for more investment in skills, and this investment will be a real boost for the area.
“It also comes at a time when we need to be addressing climate breakdown, and the impact a heating world will have on workers – building these reactors will help reduce the UK’s carbon footprint
13 unite buildingWORKER Autumn 2025
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
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary
and be a step towards the greener, cleaner and safer future that unions are fighting for.”
Energy secretary, Ed Miliband, stressed the importance of the construction projects and SMR, saying, “We need new nuclear to deliver a golden age of clean energy abundance, because that is the only
way to protect family finances, take back control of our energy, and tackle the climate crisis.
“Great British Energy – Nuclear, has run a rigorous competition and will now work with the preferred bidder Rolls-Royce SMR to build the country’s first ever small modular reactors – creating thousands of jobs and growing our regional economies while strengthening our energy security,” he continued.
As well as welcoming the news of Sizewell and the new SMR projects Unite has also renewed its calls on the government to commit to building a new nuclear power station at Wylfa.
In May 2024 the government announced that the Anglesey site was its preferred site for a large-scale gigawatt nuclear power plant.
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