Campaigners are set to take to the streets today amid freezing temperatures to demand action to tackle rises in household bills and corporate profiteering.
A march will be held this afternoon starting outside Scottish Power's offices calling for an end to late payment fees by the big energy companies and the forced installation of prepayment meters, and to demand no further rises in the cost of energy.
Organisers Power to the People is a non-partisan campaign, bringing together academics, researchers, councillors, former MSPs and representatives from the environmentalist movement. Since being founded in June, the campaign has mobilised thousands in the fight against the cost of living crisis.
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Ahead of Christmas, those behind the protest have called on the public in Glasgow and across Scotland to come together and challenge the UK Government and companies charging through the nose for bills as the cost of living crisis mounts.
Glasgow Labour councillor, Matt Kerr, commented: “We’re coming together tomorrow to show that we are not going away, and haven’t been bought off by any phoney ‘price freeze’. We refuse to accept that energy company CEOs can continue to profit from poverty through penalty charges. We will not line their pockets while our fellow citizens freeze.”
“There’s a lot of chat about who the grinch is this Christmas - well, it’s not trade unionists fighting for a decent wage, and it’s not the people who can’t afford to eat.
"The grinches are the energy companies, Ofgem, and the government happy to steal food from workers’ mouths.”
“We are determined they will not get away with their greed.”
Jackie McMaster, a Power To The People activist dealing with soaring bills, added: “Our bills have risen from £80 to £366 a month over the last year and a half.
"Every time we moved provider, they went bust. Trying to get any accountability is impossible. Consumer protection has gone out the window. Energy companies have taken complete control. You can't complain about it, there's no one to listen. Even if you do get through to someone, they don't know what's happening."
The march will be leaving from Scottish Power HQ at 320 St Vincent Street at 3pm today (Friday December 16)
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