Now that the first chills of winter have appeared and the gritters are out, and the first fuel increase has been announced at the beginning of the month by one of the energy companies, how long will it be before the others follow suit?

 It would seem that we are in for a particularly harsh winter, especially if you are a pensioner who no longer gets a winter fuel payment, or a low paid worker just a few pounds or pence above the threshold for family tax credits and are already struggling to make ends meet. Whilst energy companies rake in obscene profits for shareholders to deposit in offshore bank accounts (to avoid paying taxes), senior executives are given massive bonuses while the companies tell us they have to pass increased production costs on to the users.

Utilities should be in public ownership and profits used to lower energy costs, upgrade infrastructure and invest in green sustainable energy and jobs. Our politicians were very quick to state, even before the vote took place in Westminster, that they would scrap the winter fuel allowance for all pensioners in line with Westminster, except for those receiving a means tested benefit like pension credits. Those same politicians don’t seem to see the irony in offering health and social care staff in Northern Ireland less than the pay award agreed by that same Government.  

Backdating a pay award to August instead of April is not pay parity, it’s a betrayal of those staff who have struggled and continue to struggle, to keep the health and social care services running against a backdrop of staff shortages, bed shortages under funding and low morale. Winter pressures on the Health Service will become more extreme this year, because of the decision on winter fuel payments, as pensioners will not be able to afford to heat their homes and will end up hospitalised due to hypothermia, respiratory, and other health conditions related to cold and dampness.  

 It will be those same health and social care workers that the executive refuses to grant parity of pay to, who will be called upon to deliver the care needed amidst the crisis that will unfold.  

The parties in the executive are always very quick to demand parity of esteem and respect for their own particular culture and views, so it’s now time for them to grant parity of pay, esteem, and respect to health and social care staff and all public sector workers.