Unite takes energy message to the streets

Campaigns News

Unite Community groups across the country protest at price hike

Thursday, October 3rd, 2024

Reading time: 4 min

Unite campaigners braved the weather and took to the streets on Tuesday (Oct 1) in protest at the energy price hike and called for energy price guarantees and public ownership.

Members of Unite, alongside other community organisations, held rallies and stalls at dozens of UK locations to demonstrate.

The demonstrations were part of the Unite4Energy for All campaign, which was launched last year to urge the government to end fuel poverty through the introduction of a free allowance of energy to every household to meet basic needs

Protesters also called for the public ownership of energy distribution networks, domestic power suppliers and the North Sea’s reserves of oil and gas, to bring an end to flagrant profiteering.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Callous utility corporations are blighting the lives of millions. Every household must be guaranteed enough energy to cover essential needs. No one should be forced to choose between heating or eating.

“Last year alone, private firms reported profits of £45 billion from our country’s domestic energy system. If that money had been kept in the hands of the hardworking public, it could have been used to save each household almost £2,000 on their energy bills.”

Unite Community activist, Judy White said: “The tragedy in this country, the fifth richest in the world, is that people are having to choose between eating and heating.

“The cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance is appalling and the consequences will be catastrophic. We believe that with decisive government action all deaths from cold homes, and fuel poverty can be avoided.”

Unite campaigners received a huge amount of public support, as well as lots of coverage in the local media.

Speaking to the Sheffield Star Wendy, a Unite Community member from Sheffield said of the changes to the fuel payment: “[It’s] terrible. Awful. It’s disgraceful. Absolutely disgraceful.

“A lot of people live from hand to mouth and I don’t think the government, with their £90,000-a-year income, they don’t know what’s going on in the world.

“I think it’s mean. I think it’s a really mean thing they’ve done… I think it’s very badly thought out.”

Keith Sansum joined other members of Unite Community Dover in speaking to BBC Kent, and said: “There’s millionaires, billionaires out. Take a little bit from them, they’re not even going to notice it.

“The pensioners will notice it. Eat or heat is what they are going to have to do. It’s a big decision to make.”

Find out more on the “Unite for Energy for All” facebook page and on the Unite “Defend the Winter Fuel Payment” campaign page.

Below are photos from just some of the fantastic protest and campaign stalls on this Tuesday.