Usdaw is also disappointed that youth rates continue and the union renews their call for an end to rip-off pay for young workers. From 1 April 2024 the National Living Wage for workers 21 years and over will be £11.44 and the National Minimum Wage for those aged 18 to 20 goes to £8.60.
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “The Chancellor is deluded when he claims that this increase fulfils their manifesto pledge to end low pay for those on the National Living Wage. The real living wage, which takes into account the cost of living, remains over 50p more per hour and better reflects the pay workers need.
“We provided the Low Pay Commission with evidence of why we need a new deal for workers, which includes at least £12 per hour now, as a step toward £15, and an end to unjust rip-off youth rates. While we welcome a pay rise for the lowest paid and the lowering of the age that the adult rate applies, today’s uprating shows that the Government has missed the opportunity to provide the help workers need to get through the biggest cost of living crisis in a generation.
“Going to work should mean a decent standard of living for all workers, not least young workers. They are more likely to be paid less than older colleagues, even when doing the same job. They also often work hours that are not guaranteed in their contract, so they really need fairer and better pay. It is deeply disappointing that minimum wage rates continue to discriminate by age for under 21s.
“I’m afraid today’s uprating shows that the Government is not doing what workers need in the face of the cost of living crisis. They have simply failed to understand the scale of the challenge faced by millions of workers across the country. That is in stark contrast to the commitment made by Labour to deliver a new deal when they get into government.”
The next Labour Government will deliver a new deal that includes:
- Making work pay with a genuine living wage that people can actually live on.
- Banning zero-hours contracts.
- Ending fire and rehire.
- Giving workers basic rights from day one.
- Going further and faster in closing the gender pay gap.
- Making work more family friendly.
- Tackling sexual harassment.
- Ensuring that unions can stand up for their members.
- Boosting collective bargaining, to improve workers’ pay, terms and conditions.
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 350,000 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 further information please contact Usdaw’s Media Officer, David Williams on: 0161 249 2469, 07798 696 603 or by e-mail to
david.a.williams@usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter
@UsdawUnion