Unite retired members

The UK this winter: 

❄️ Working class pensioners freezing | 🚑 Hospitals overwhelmed 
💰 Billionaires dodging tax  | ⏰ Time to do something about it? 

Hear Juliet's story. Save the #WinterFuelPayment

Make politicians listen! 📢 Sign our petition. 

Join our campaign to defend the Winter Fuel Payment

The Labour government is slashing entitlement to Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners, taking away a lifeline for millions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

10 million pensioners will lose up to £300 a year, equivalent to more than a week’s pension income, just as we are facing another big rise in energy bills this winter. The government has other choices. Energy company profits have more than trebled since before the pandemic and the 50 richest families in Britain own a combined £500 billion in wealth - the same as half the UK population.

The wealth is there in our society, and the government could choose to tax that. We don’t need yet more austerity. Why make pensioners pay the price?

We have launched a national campaign to defend the Winter Fuel Payment. The decision to cut it is hugely unpopular, and if we take action in big enough numbers, we can change the government's course. Visit Unite's Defend the Winter Fuel Payment campaign to find out how you can take action today.

Unite’s Retired members  ‘Decent Retirement for All’ manifesto

• Watch the Campaign video above | "Why has retirement become so terrifying that no one wants to talk about it..."

‘Unite Retired Members campaign in their communities for a fair retirement!’

‘The 2024 Election is at its end. Unite Retired Members have been campaigning hard around the country to have our voice heard and get our seat at the table.

This report is a summary of the campaign activity over the past few months – give it a read!

The below images show the hugely successful hustings put on in Glasgow North by Unite Retired Members.

Get organised in your community, build power, and fight for a fair retirement – whoever is in government!

68 is too late | Don't raise the state pension age

Together with the National Pensioners Convention and the Scottish Pensioners Forum, Unite is calling on politicians of all parties to scrap any plans for state pension age rises, now, or in the future.

We must continue until we get a commitment from all major parties that they will not raise the state pension age in the next parliament.

On 2 May 2023 Unite handed in our 37,000-strong petition to the Department for Work and Pensions – however we must continue until we get a commitment from all major parties that they will not raise the state pension age in the next parliament.

Pressure the Labour party to back the campaign and stop further rises to the pension age. Ask your CLP to pass a model '68 is too late' motion. Please contact us to update and let us know about your response. 

Let's drive home our message to parliament: Workers will not be made to pay for decades of politicians' bad choices. We create the wealth in this society, and we deserve a share of that wealth in our old age. Find out more on Unite's 68 is too late campaign.

Take Action | Get your local Labour party to back the campaign 

Pressure the Labour party to back the campaign and stop further rises to the pension age. Ask your CLP to pass a model '68 is too late' motion. Please contact us to let update and us know about your response. 

Research has found that a staggering 86 per cent of health workers do not believe they can mentally continue to undertake their current roles beyond the current state pension age of 66, while 83 per cent of them could not physically continue in their roles beyond the same age.

Read more about the 68 is too late campaign.

Shrewsbury 24 | A victory for trade unions

Watch Unite retired member Terry Renshaw tell how the Shrewsbury 24 campaign won its 47-year fight for justice

6 September 1972 seemed like a normal day, there was a national building strike, but apart from workers exercising their democratic right to strike there was just a normal day's picketing, no battles, no fights, no complaints or even arrests by the police, but months later a selection of pickets were picked out and prosecuted by the state in a travesty that would take almost 50 years to overturn. Check out the page dedicated to the Shrewsbury 24 campaign victory - Shrewsbury 24 | A victory for trade unions after a 47-year fight for justice.

Campaigning for outstanding bus services

Defend Free Travel Passes - Belfast Protest

Our privatised bus services are failing us: Unreliable and infrequent services, high fares, even more cuts threatened. A UK-wide Better Buses Campaign has been launched.

The campaign is calling for guaranteed, adequate funding to make public transport the most attractive option; and an end to privatisation where bus companies put profits before people. Can contact the campaign via email. 

Actions are taking place across the country. In Belfast, on 19 August, Unite retired members organised a Defend Free Travel Passes protest. A solidarity statement from the Better Buses Campaign was read out – watch the video above.

Find out more about the campaign here, including details of actions taking place in your area: Check out the Better Buses Campaign.

Defend the Triple Lock

The pensions triple lock is under threat. Neither Labour nor the Tories have committed to including the triple lock in their next manifesto. The UK’s state pension is low relative to other countries. With prices spiralling and millions of older people already having to choose between eating and heating, it is unthinkable that either a Labour or a Tory government may axe the triple lock.

Unite retired members: What we do

Unite retired members campaign on any issue affecting retired workers, through Unite and also through the National Pensioners’ Convention, the Scottish Pensioners’ Forum and the TUC Pensions Committee. We don’t just campaign on retired members’ issues, we support all workers in struggle and campaign on issues such as:

• Dignity in retirement – an end to pensioner poverty, safe, accessible public transport, properly funded social care and health services, universal benefits such as the free bus pass, TV licence for the over 75s, winter fuel allowance and NHS prescriptions.
• Better communities – better care in the community, securing decent public services, ending poverty, stronger social cohesion and safe, secure and affordable homes for all
• Decent work for all – ending zero-hours contracts, job insecurity, low pay and demanding better career opportunities

What does Unite Retired Members Plus membership get me?

For just 55p a week your Unite Retired Members Plus membership gets you:

• Access to dedicated solicitors with experience in representing RMP members in personal injury claims, serious injury claims, road traffic accident claims, medical negligence claims and industrial disease claims
• Access to Unite Legal Services for support with conveyancing, will writing, probate and power of attorney
• Free legal helpline for RMP members for up to half an hour of free advice on non-work related matters
• Access to funeral benefits
• A discount at The View Hotel in Eastbourne
• Convalescent benefit: Some members may be entitled to a convalescent stay at the View Hotel, Eastbourne, subject to terms and conditions. Applicants should contact their regional office for assistance with making a claim.
• And more...

Coming up to retirement? Stay involved in Unite

Already a member? Simply call your local Unite office and they will adjust your membership and direct debit. Retired membership is just 55p a week.

Only Retired Member Plus members will be able to play a full part in the Unite Retired Members’ section.

You will not be able to play a full part in the constitutional structures of Unite unless you join Retired Member Plus.