Tag: Fuel Poverty
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Smart meters no substitute for direct support for surging electricity costs
Assurances needed for meter readers and that smart meter work will be done by NIE professionals Unite is seeking immediate assurances from Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) over concerns for the future employment of electricity meter readers. Assurances are being demanded following the announcement by Stormont economy minister Caoimhe Archibald of plans to bring forward installation…
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Campaign to restore Winter fuel payment for all pensioners launched on steps to Stormont
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…
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In context of political failure, local councils must act to safeguard poor and homeless during cold snap
In absence of political action, numbers dying in winter in Northern Ireland unnecessarily has risen 130 percent in three years to 1,500 Poverty leaves many reliant on old, dangerous or un-serviced heating devices for heating or going to bed early and visiting public places to avoid the cold Albert Hewitt, Unite Community Coordinator called on…
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Universal Credit causing misery and hardship for families in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland households claiming the new all-in-one benefit, Universal Credit are being plunged into misery and hardship Westminster government must stop the roll out of Universal Credit before even more families are forced into poverty 23rd May: As part of a UK-wide Day of Action, Unite Community members and campaigners will be demonstrating from 3-4pm…
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Executive must deliver warm homes for Northern Ireland pensioners
Northern Ireland only UK region where older persons unable to access £140 discount towards home heating costs December 16th: In light of the recent exposé of the Renewable Heating Incentive scandal, Unite Equalities Officer, Taryn Trainor, called on the Northern Ireland Executive to show as much concern for the heating of pensioner homes as they…