Unite has welcomed this afternoon’s announcement by communities minister Gordon Lyons that the winter fuel payment will be restored as a clear win for pensioners.

The announcement will mean that the Northern Ireland Executive will restore the payment in line with yesterday’s announcement by the Labour government which only applied in England and Wales. Pensioners with incomes below £35,000 will receive the payment in full.

Unite has led the campaign, alongside the national pensioners’ convention and other pensioner groups, for restoration of the payment. Northern Ireland is the UK region with the highest rates of fuel poverty.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Commonsense has finally prevailed as the winter fuel cut has been reversed for most pensioners. Leadership is about choices and the choice to pit workers against pensioners was simply wrong.

“Britain is the sixth richest economy in the world, the idea that we would be picking the pockets of our pensioners was unnecessary and unforgivable.”

The campaign organised a protest at Stormont and presented the minister with a petition signed by thousands demanding the Stormont executive act to defend pensioners at risk of winter fuel poverty. In response to that campaign, Stormont provided a mitigation payment of £100 to every affected pensioner.

Unite regional secretary of Unite, Susan Fitzgerald said, “Today’s announcement is a clear win for pensioners and builds upon the partial restoration we were able to win last winter in Northern Ireland. Unite is proud to have played a leading role in the effort to get the payment restored for most pensioners.”

ENDS…

For further information or to arrange an interview with a campaign representative contact Donal O’Cofaigh, Unite campaigns, communications & press (NI), tel. 07810 157926.