Low-income retired workers in Northern Ireland will be disproportionately impacted by move limiting payment to those receiving pension credit

When: 10.30am Monday 7^th October 2024 with the rally from 11am-1pm

Where: Assembling at Stormont Gates   

What: Feeder parade to NPC rally at Stormont demanding restoration of Winter Fuel Payment in Northern Ireland

Media are invited to attend for video, photo and interviews.

Unite the union has encouraged attendance at a rally called by the National Pensioners’ Convention at Stormont for restoration of the Winter Fuel payment. 

The union is organising a feeder march ahead of the rally which will gather at 10.30am at the main entrance Gate to the Stormont Estate. Attendees will then process up the road to join the NPC rally which will be held at the steps of Stormont at 11am.

Unite the union succeeded in passing a motion at the recent Labour party conference calling for the government to reverse its plans to end the universal winter fuel payment. The policy to limit payments to those in receipt of pension credit will have greatest impact on those formerly employed in low wage jobs who have small pensions just sufficient to make them ineligible for the benefit.

Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite said: “The government’s winter fuel policy needs to be reversed. Picking the pockets of pensioners is not a tough choice – it is a mistake. 

“There is no reason why we have to choose between paying workers and keeping pensioners warm. Unite’s retired members are furious and will be making their voice heard.”

Unite regional secretary Susan Fitzgerald said, “This is an entirely unnecessary attack on retired workers by the new Labour government. The Stormont Executive shouldn’t just meekly follow suit and enforce this rotten policy here. No reasonable person would think that this Dickensian attack is acceptable. Unite stands full-square behind our retired members who are demanding restoration of this vital payment.”