At today’s National Pensioners Convention rally at Stormont, speaker after speaker assailed both the Labour government for ending the winter fuel payment and the Stormont executive for meekly enforcing the policy in Northern Ireland. 

Unite’s speakers committed the union to campaign to reverse the policy and highlighted the cruel impact it will have on pensioners in Northern Ireland, the UK region with the highest rates of fuel poverty.

General secretary of Unite Sharon Graham was central to the successful vote against the policy taken at Labour party conference. She said, “It’s time to change course. To reverse these cuts before it is too late. Before our NHS is overrun with sick older people or pensioners die from the cold. This austerity cut to winter fuel needs to be scrapped.

“Friends I make no apology for calling Labour to account. They are simply wrong on this issue. We cannot put our fingers in our ears or walk on the other side of the road. We must stand up and be counted.”

Speaking for Unite at the rally was retired worker Dympna McGlade who challenged Stormont for imposing the cut here. “Did you know that this big house on the hill paid over £400,000 in energy costs for the two years the assembly was collapsed? 

“When they came back they wanted to take our bus passes – which we fought hard to keep and we won. But now the government’s coming for our winter fuel payment – indeed I am beginning to wonder if they let us keep our bus passes so we could ride on the buses to stop us from freezing at home. Reinstate the winter fuel payment—and do it now! No ifs – no buts – no winter payment cuts!”

Regional secretary for Unite Susan Fitzgerald who attended the protest and said, “It’s completely unacceptable that this attack has just been passed on to retired workers. A pensioner with a tiny work-related pension will lose this vital payment. It’s impact will be most severe here as the region with the highest fuel poverty rates. Unite is full square behind our members in this fight.

“The Stormont politicians should refuse to implement it and take a stand on the side of retired workers. Such an action will force others to do the right thing and end this assault on those already in need this winter.”