Usdaw has published statistics from their cost of living survey of over 5,500 retail staff, mainly low-paid key workers who deliver essential services which show that:
 

• Petrol prices and travel costs impact the ability to get to work for nearly 50% of respondents.
• 7 in 10 have relied on insecure borrowing and 60% of these are struggling with repayments.
• 1 in 4 are missing meals every month to be able to pay their bills, this has increased from 1 in 20 last year.
• Nearly three-quarters report their mental health is being impacted as a result of financial worries.

 
Usdaw will be campaigning on Erdington High Street.
 
West Midlands voices from the cost of living crisis frontline: These are some of the comments West Midlands workers shared when responding to Usdaw’s survey:
 

• “I worry on a day to day basis and sometimes miss work due to missing meals. It’s playing a big part in my mental health.” Retail worker, 36
• “I’m worried as I’m due for retirement in next ten years and with rising costs don’t know that I can afford to retire.” Delivery driver, 61
• “I need a lot of energy to do the lifting and sustained speed to deliver and complete within shift but sometimes I cannot afford to eat what I need.”  Retail worker, 50
• “Paying bills and debts are all I think about. To reduce electricity and food purchases I have stopped using my fridge and freezer. I am looking for a second job.” Home delivery driver, 65
• “The stress and worry of how to afford to keep a roof over my children's heads and food on the table is constant. I work as many hours as I'm possibly able to but this then affects home life. I work six days a week and still can't meet all my bills and food shop.”  Retail worker, 34
• “I’m staying in bed longer and having blanket over me when sitting on the settee to keep warm. Not buying food which needs to be cooked in the oven as expensive and I live alone. Worry if I get visitors and need to put heating on to get warm room or if my two grandchildren want to have a sleep over on a weekend.” Retail worker, 59

 
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “It is heart-breaking to hear these testimonies from West Midlands workers who are in the main key workers that we rely on for essential services. Usdaw’s recent cost of living survey of over 5,500 lays bare the struggle low-paid workers are experiencing just to make ends meet.
 
“Many respondents talked of how increased fuel prices were leading them to cut down on shifts, to ask for a transfer to a store closer to home or even to consider leaving work altogether. Worryingly, cutting down on food and skipping meals was also a common theme, as well as taking steps to reduce non-work related travel to save on fuel costs, such as visiting family or pursuing leisure activities.
 
“These are the very real experiences of essential workers who were clapped during the pandemic and now seem to be forgotten. The Government has offered only sticking plasters that go nowhere near covering rising prices and bills, so there needs to be significant increases in minimum wage rates and fundamental reforms to end insecure work.
 
“Usdaw is calling for a new deal for workers, with minimum wage rates of at least £12 per hour as a step towards £15 for all workers. The pandemic clearly demonstrated just how reliant the country is on the lowest paid workers, so if we are to truly ‘build back better’ surely these essential workers deserve the dignity of decent pay.”
 
Usdaw’s New Deal for Workers calls for:
 

• Minimum wage of at least £12 per hour as a step towards £15 for all workers, ending rip-off youth rates.
• 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.
• Proper social security system, Universal Credit does not provide an effective safety net.
• Job security, with day one employment rights for unfair dismissal and significant improvements to redundancy protections.
• Fair treatment and equality for all workers, including equal pay.
• 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 around 360,000 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