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Usdaw welcomes increases in statutory minimum wage rates, it's the least that millions of low-paid essential workers can expect

Date: 01 April 2020 Shopworkers trade union Usdaw has welcomed the uprating of national minimum wage rates today, but continues to call for at least £10 hour, recognising the essential work millions of low-paid workers are doing to help the country through the Coronavirus emergency.

The national living wage, for over-25s, will go up from £8.21 an hour to £8.72. The national minimum wage will go up from £7.70 to £8.20 for 21 to 24-year-olds, from £6.15 to £6.45 for 18 to 20-year-olds and from £4.35 to £4.55 for under-18s. The hourly rate for apprentices will increase from £3.90 to £4.15.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Any increase in minimum wage rates is welcome, but this uprating falls way short of the £10 per hour Usdaw called for and goes nowhere near the ‘real’ Living Wage rate, which takes account of the cost of living.

“Many workers on or near the National Minimum Wage, such as staff in retail, are finally being recognised as essential in the current crisis, so these workers at least deserve a pay rise. Usdaw continues to call for at least £10 per hour now, which is not too much for people doing essential work.

“Usdaw provided detailed evidence demonstrating the need for a £10 minimum and an end to rip-off youth rates, so our ‘Time for Better Pay’ campaign continues. While today’s uprating provides a much needed pay boost, it is a timely reminder of the low pay many of our essential workers earn.”

Notes for editors:

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

Usdaw’s full written submission to the LPC: www.usdaw.org.uk/LPC2020

Usdaw’s ‘time for better pay’ campaign is calling for:

Young workers to be paid the full adult rate.
At least £10 per hour minimum wage rate.
A ban on zero-hours contracts.
Tackling short-hours contracts through a statutory minimum contract of 16 hours per week, for those who want it.
A statutory right to an employment contract that reflects an individual’s normal hours of work.

For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion