- Conference
- 2023 National Retired Members Conference
- Date
- 31 May 2023
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Conference believes:
1)Retired members have been particularly hard hit by the cost-of-living crisis and in particular the massive increases in energy bills since April 2021 that has hit millions of people.
2. Retired members who are at home during the day have faced the impossible juggling act of trying to keep themselves warm and still have enough money for other day to day living costs.
3. It has been especially galling to face such massive increases in heating costs at the same time as watching the top five energy companies pay over $130 billion in dividends to shareholders in 2022.
4. Not only has the privatised UK energy industry been a disaster for retired members, the so-called “competitive market” has meant the excellent opportunity to replace harmful carbon-based generating ability with clean renewable energy has been squandered. Obtuse rules imposed to try and create the impression of an energy market has meant any benefits of the cheap renewable energy which has been rolled out has failed to be translated into cheap prices for customers.
5. The massive opposition to high energy prices and the overwhelming popular support for public ownership of utilities is a vindication of the position our union has consistently adopted of support for public ownership of utilities.
6. As we approach a 2024 General Election it is essential that we win a commitment that the next government will end this disastrous experiment of privatised energy and instead bring this essential public service back into public ownership.
7. The research already commissioned by UNISON says the benefits which a publicly owned Energy industry would bring in terms of:
a)Tackling the gross underinvestment in new generation capacity and infrastructure. A nationally co-ordinated plan can drive the move to clean energy without the need to bribe private industry.
b. Introducing measures to tackle and eliminate the scandal of fuel poverty.
c. Ending the drive for profit which leads to excessive bonuses for senior executives, attacks on the employment contracts of ordinary employees and an ever-increasing cost to the consumer.
Conference calls on the National Retired Members Committee to liaise with the NEC, Labour Link, and other relevant organisations:
1)To use appropriate resources and channels to support the promotion of the policy of bringing the Energy Industry back into public ownership with the aim that the next government has this as one of its key commitments.
2. Use current and supporting information and research in support of this aim.