Unite, Britain's biggest union, is pressing for a windfall tax on energy companies.

At a press briefing at the annual Labour Party Conference yesterday, the union said it's launching a publicity campaign calling for taxing fuel giants to end fuel poverty.

According to Unite, even a "modest" windfall tax on oil and energy companies would generate an immediate 3.6 million pounds (about 6.5 million U.S. dollars), enough to provide nearly six million British homes with an estimated 250 pounds each this winter towards their fuel bills.

Fuel prices rose by an average 38 percent this year. British Gas, Britain's biggest domestic energy supplier which has 15.9 million customers, cited soaring wholesale energy prices for the price hike.

Tony Woodley, Unite's joint general secretary, laid out a seven-point plan for fuel justice. He said: "Energy companies is this country have seen their profits leap by an incredible 538 percent in five years, money they've used to line their shareholders' and executives' pockets. Yet all consumers have had is price pain."

Unite's plan for fuel justice proposes a windfall tax on both the energy and oil companies and price capping to roll back prices and prevent future price hikes.

Woodley urged the government to make a choice between corporate greed or people's needs.

The union which also organized protest for high pay for workers on Sunday wants to influence Labour government's policy makers during the 4-day party conference to help the disadvantage groups of the society survive the upcoming winter.