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Real Living Wage uprating welcomed - Usdaw continues the campaign for at least £10 per hour for all workers

Date: 15 November 2021 Retail trade union leader Paddy Lillis has welcomed today’s increase in the real Living Wage rates, as set by the Living Wage Foundation, and continues to call for at least £10 per hour for workers of all ages.
The Living Wage Foundation has today announced new rates for the real Living wage of £9.90 per hour and a higher rate of £11.05 in London. The Government’s so-called ‘National Living Wage’ is currently £8.91, which is set to rise to £9.50 in April, with lower National Minimum Wage rates for younger workers.

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Many of the key workers who have helped us through the pandemic earn less than the real Living Wage. The public’s appreciation for the efforts of key workers delivering essential services is welcome, but that doesn’t pay the rent or put food on the table. So the new Living Wage rates are welcome, which are based on an individual’s cost of living and clearly show that the Government’s so-called ‘National Living Wage’ is nothing of the sort.

“Usdaw has consistently campaigned for at least £10 per hour immediately for all workers over 16, which would abolish rip-off youth rates. If you’re old enough to do the job, you’re old enough to be paid the rate for the job. As a result of our efforts, youth rates no longer exist in companies like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Co-op and Morrisons.

“As recognised by the Living Wage Foundation’s ‘Living Hours’ campaign, improving hourly pay alone is not enough. We need to look at security of employment, availability of hours and guaranteed contracts, to ensure workers have a weekly income that they can live on. That is why Usdaw is campaigning for a New Deal for Workers to help ensure that the coronavirus recovery delivers workplace fairness.”

Usdaw’s New Deal for Workers calls for:
  • A minimum wage of at least £10 per hour for all workers, ending rip-off youth rates and providing a living wage.
  • Minimum contract of 16 hours per week, for everyone who wants it, that reflects normal hours worked and a ban on zero-hour contracts.
  • Better sick pay for all workers, from day one, at average earnings.
  • Protection at work – respect for shopworkers, abuse is not a part of the job.
  • A proper social security system, Universal Credit does not provide a safety net.
  • Job security, with day one employment rights for unfair dismissal and redundancy.
  • Fair treatment and equality for all workers, including equal pay.
  • A voice at work, stop rogue employers refusing to engage with trade unions and end ‘fire and rehire’.
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion

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The official website of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers