Minimum wage will help shopworkers

Shopworkers’ union, Usdaw, is welcoming the rise in the National Minimum Wage, which will benefit many shopworkers. However, the union is calling for a higher increase next year to keep up with inflation.

The National Minimum Wage goes up from £5.52 to £5.73 on 1 October 2008, a rise of 3.8 per cent. However, this is less than the growth of inflation, which is currently at 4.8 per cent (Retail Price Index).

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, said:

“As always, we are pleased when so many of our members, the majority of whom are women, benefit from a rise in the minimum wage. When a 3.8 per cent rise was agreed earlier this year it seemed reasonable, but the cost of living has gone up and this shortfall will still leave many of our members struggling to pay the bills.

“Usdaw will continue to press the Government for a substantial increase in the minimum wage for next year and continue to negotiate with employers for good pay increases.”

On Thursday eight of Usdaw’s low-paid members will be meeting with the Low Pay Commission in Cardiff to talk about their experience of living on low wages and the issues they are facing at this difficult time.

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Cherry Hamilton, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail cherry.hamilton@usdaw.org.uk
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fourth biggest trade union, with over 367,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Subscribe/unsubscribe to Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service at: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/site/email.html

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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