Rising energy prices are savagely reducing the quality of life for some of the poorest members of our society, the UNISON union has warned.
The situation is so bad for some public services workers that they are only putting the heating on when the temperature drops below freezing, or are going to bed early to keep warm.
As well as forcing workers to make significant reductions to their outgoings, such as selling a family car - as reported by one UNISON member - low-paid workers are having to forego even small luxuries, such as a trip to the cinema, so crippling their energy bills have become.
Another member, applying to the union for a winter fuel grant, said that they could only afford to put the heating on at the weekends, so that the house was warm for when their grandchildren came to visit.
The shocking impact that exorbitant energy costs are having has been highlighted by There for You: supporting UNISON members when life gets tough - the charity arm of UNISON, the UK's largest union.
There for You, which provides grants to UNISON members who are experiencing financial difficulties ranging from struggling with mortgage repayments, to small loans to buy clothing such as school uniforms, paid out more than £750,000 in grants in 2011 - and increase of more than 11% since 2010.
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: "The pay freeze is really hurting many public service workers and their families. It is a disgrace that working people have to turn to welfare grants just to buy basics like clothing - for which we've seen a more-than-500% increase - and to pay their household bills. The soaring cost of energy is pushing many family budgets over the edge.
"The sun may be shining now, but winter will be here before we know it, and it is a scandal that exorbitant energy prices are having such a massive impact on the quality of life of some of the poorest workers in our society. The fact that they are having to take measures as extreme as only putting the heating on when the temperature hits freezing shows just how bad the situation has become.
"Low-paid public sector workers are the backbone of our society, and the Government should be ashamed that these people are having to make such enormous sacrifices and struggling just to keep warm. UNISON questions what the role of the utilities watchdogs is when the poorest in our society cannot heat their homes, while utilities companies continue to rake in massive profits for their shareholders. Heat is a basic human need, not a luxury to be rationed, and we urge the Government to act now to turn this situation around before it ends in tragedy."
Source NEWS : Investor Today
The situation is so bad for some public services workers that they are only putting the heating on when the temperature drops below freezing, or are going to bed early to keep warm.
As well as forcing workers to make significant reductions to their outgoings, such as selling a family car - as reported by one UNISON member - low-paid workers are having to forego even small luxuries, such as a trip to the cinema, so crippling their energy bills have become.
Another member, applying to the union for a winter fuel grant, said that they could only afford to put the heating on at the weekends, so that the house was warm for when their grandchildren came to visit.
The shocking impact that exorbitant energy costs are having has been highlighted by There for You: supporting UNISON members when life gets tough - the charity arm of UNISON, the UK's largest union.
There for You, which provides grants to UNISON members who are experiencing financial difficulties ranging from struggling with mortgage repayments, to small loans to buy clothing such as school uniforms, paid out more than £750,000 in grants in 2011 - and increase of more than 11% since 2010.
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: "The pay freeze is really hurting many public service workers and their families. It is a disgrace that working people have to turn to welfare grants just to buy basics like clothing - for which we've seen a more-than-500% increase - and to pay their household bills. The soaring cost of energy is pushing many family budgets over the edge.
"The sun may be shining now, but winter will be here before we know it, and it is a scandal that exorbitant energy prices are having such a massive impact on the quality of life of some of the poorest workers in our society. The fact that they are having to take measures as extreme as only putting the heating on when the temperature hits freezing shows just how bad the situation has become.
"Low-paid public sector workers are the backbone of our society, and the Government should be ashamed that these people are having to make such enormous sacrifices and struggling just to keep warm. UNISON questions what the role of the utilities watchdogs is when the poorest in our society cannot heat their homes, while utilities companies continue to rake in massive profits for their shareholders. Heat is a basic human need, not a luxury to be rationed, and we urge the Government to act now to turn this situation around before it ends in tragedy."
Source NEWS : Investor Today
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