A trade union has criticised energy company Drax over plans to cut more than 350 jobs, saying it has “betrayed” its workforce and wider communities.
Drax Group said on Tuesday that it was consulting over restructuring in the UK and North America that could result in the reduction of its workforce.
It said the plans were “in no way a reflection of the professionalism” of its staff and were necessary to secure the long-term success of the business and support the transition to renewable energy.
In a statement, the company also said that the recent signing of a low-carbon agreement with the government “is recognition of the important role that Drax Power Station will continue to play for UK energy security into the 2030s.
“Moving forwards, we’re focused on driving growth in our flexible generation business, creating new options and opportunities at Drax Power Station beyond 2031, and advancing future uses of sustainable biomass.”
The GMB union, which says it has more than 500,000 members in various sectors across Britain, hit back at the reasoning for the proposals.
Senior organiser Deanne Ferguson said: “You can’t build a low-carbon future by making skilled energy workers redundant.
“Drax has had huge public subsidies – yet has betrayed the workforce and the communities that have supported it.
“A just transition means secure jobs, proper planning and workers at the heart of change.
“Ministers need to step in and make sure the reality matches their rhetoric.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is shameful that a firm making billions such as Drax is choosing to target its staff. It is morally wrong that workers, their families and local communities pay the price for corporate greed.
“Drax has serious questions to answer about the rationale for this decision. A just transition needs more energy workers with expertise, not fewer, to succeed.
“Unite will not stand by and allow these highly skilled energy workers to lose their jobs.”
Drax, which is based in North Yorkshire, said in December that its financial performance had been strong and it was expecting its full-year earnings to be at the higher end of forecasts.
In the first half of 2025, it made £2.45 billion in revenue. The company’s shares have risen about 46 per cent in the past 12 months.
It has unveiled plans to develop a data centre at its Yorkshire power station which could be running as soon as 2027.
The company employed around 3,250 employees worldwide at the end of 2024.
