In developing the new campaign the LWF cites Usdaw’s ‘Time for Better pay’ campaign as best practice. The ‘Living Hours’ campaign calls for:
- Decent notice periods for shifts: At least 4 weeks’ notice, with guaranteed payment if shifts are cancelled within this notice period.
- A contract with living hours: The right to a contract that reflects actual hours worked, and a guaranteed minimum of 16 hours a week (unless the worker requests otherwise).
Paddy Lillis - Usdaw General Secretary says: “Usdaw has been involved in the Living Wage Foundation’s 18 month research project and consultation and we are delighted that their conclusions are very similar to Usdaw’s ‘Time for Better Pay’ campaign. The momentum is building for action to end job insecurity and help working people secure a wage they can live on.
“This should make the Government sit up and listen. Their initial response to Usdaw’s campaign was deeply disappointing and woefully inadequate, as they failed to engage with the evidence we provided. This welcome intervention from LWF should lead to a Government rethink and we encourage employers to engage with the planned ‘Living Hours’ accreditation programme run by the Living Wage Foundation.
“Usdaw’s campaign continues. Our aim is to persuade MPs to back a £10 an hour minimum wage and more secure contracts, which would boost minimum wage workers’ full-time pay by a much needed £2,640 a year. We need real and urgent improvements to workers’ rights to deliver an economy that works for all working people.”
Usdaw’s ‘Time for Better Pay’ campaign is calling on the Government to strengthen workers’ rights by introducing:
- A minimum wage rate of at least £10 per hour for all workers.
- Minimum contracts of 16 hours per week for everyone who wants one.
- Contracts based on an individual’s normal hours of work.
- An end to zero-hours contracts.
For more information:
www.usdaw.org.uk/T4BP
Usdaw’s survey of over 10,000 working people about their experiences of low pay, short-hours contracts and insecure work shows that stronger employment rights are urgently needed:
- Over the past five years, 92% of those surveyed have seen no improvement in their financial situation.
- Over the past 12 months 76% of low-paid workers have had to rely on unsecured borrowing to pay everyday bills.
- 63% of people believe that financial worries are having an impact on their mental health.
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 420,000 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.
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter
@UsdawUnion