The Living Wage Foundation announced new rates for the ‘real’ Living Wage in October and gives accredited businesses like IKEA six months to implement the increase. The Government’s so-called ‘National Living Wage’ is currently £10.42 and will rise to £11.44 in April, with lower National Minimum Wage rates for younger workers.
 
Dave Gill – Usdaw National Officer says: “Usdaw has been in discussions with IKEA about their continuing commitment to be a Living Wage employer and implementing the latest increase. So our members are pleased to hear that the company has agreed to pay the new Living Wage through two 5% pay increases next year. They remain one of a few retail employers who pay the real Living Wage. We also welcome that IKEA staff are set to receive a bonus to all eligible staff at the end of the year, worth at least a month’s pay.
 
“The scale of the financial challenges facing all workers as the cost of living crisis continues. Despite headline rates of inflation coming down, the price of many essential items remain high, particularly food, fuel and energy. The stark choice between heating and eating is one that many low paid workers will face this winter.
 
“Usdaw is campaigning for urgent Government action and continues to call for a new deal for workers with a minimum wage of at least £12 per hour, as a step to £15, and an end to insecure employment. Living Wage employers like IKEA are leading the way, but we need the Government to go much further.”
 
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 www.usdaw.org.uk
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion