Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Usdaw congratulates Holly Lynch MP on her private members' bill to extend the National Living Wage to workers aged over 18. It is extremely disappointing that it ran out of time before full consideration could be given to it with a proper debate and a vote. We believe that pay fairness for young workers is long overdue.
“This Bill is a very welcome measure because it creates a level playing field based on fairness for young workers. Usdaw has successfully negotiated the removal of age-related pay in many of the major retailers that we negotiate with. Those employers, who are doing the right thing by their young workers, are vulnerable to being undercut by employers who take advantage of a law that discriminates by age.
“Usdaw believes that young workers should be encouraged to enter and progress in the world of work, but this will not be achieved by using them as cheap labour. Youth rates of pay are not acceptable and can cause real hardship for young workers and their families. It is time the Government changed the law.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with around 435,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 28% over the decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
The Government introduced the
National Living Wage for those aged 25 and over, currently £7.83 per hour. Under-25s are only entitled to the
National Minimum Wage in the following age bands:
• Under 18s (£4.20 per hour)
• 18 – 20 (£5.90 per hour)
• 21 -24 (£7.38 per hour)
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter
@UsdawUnion