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 Dovecote Street in Stockton.
 
North East voices from the cost of living crisis frontline: These are some of the comments North East workers shared when responding to Usdaw’s survey:

• “Due to the cost of living, I have had to pursue child support from an abusive ex- partner, exposing me and my child to further abuse from him. But this is a necessity to cope with cost of living.” Retail worker, 25
• “I only eat at tea time with my child.” School midday assistant, 36
• “I’m not going to be able to afford any heating in the winter, I also have a pre-existing health condition so might not make it through the winter. Been offered the pneumonia jab - what’s the point in getting it. I would be better off not here.” Retail worker, 45
• “I used to work to have a good lifestyle once my bills were paid. I could afford treats or maybe a trip away. I now work to pay my bills and nothing else. There are no treats in my life and not in my cupboards either. I have to depend on charity or loans from family and friends just to get me through the month.” Retail worker, 54
• “Not enough is being done. That which is being done seems to be things that won’t happen soon. We need significant, fast and impactful changes that will remove the new anxiety and worry that comes with not knowing from one month to the next.” Retail worker, 37
• “It’s shocking as I have 4 kids on my own struggling away to make ends meet. I sometimes have 1 meal a day to make sure my kids are well fed or get a reduction item from supermarket to eat for me as there’s not enough money to feed us all. It’s been a struggle for nearly 10 years, worse now than ever.” Retail worker, 36

 
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “It is heart-breaking to hear these testimonies from North East 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