The Food Foundation found that of all households that were food insecure in January 2023, 38.6% are in employment, indicating that being in work is not necessarily enough to prevent families from falling into food insecurity. 25.8% of households in which a food sector worker lives experienced food insecurity in January 2023, this compares with 17.9% of households in which no one works in the food sector.
Paddy Lillis - Usdaw General Secretary says: “The Food Foundation’s finding that a quarter of key workers in the food industry are experiencing food insecurity is appalling. It reflects an Usdaw survey of our own members working in food retail, distribution and manufacturing; which found that 1 in 4 are missing meals every month to be able to pay their bills.
“The ongoing cost of living crisis is a key challenge for the Government, with skyrocketing prices leaving too many workers struggling to make ends meet. Food and drink inflation is much higher than the overall rate of inflation, with many staple items like milk, eggs, bread and butter rising at twice the headline rate. That clearly demonstrates the scale of the challenge for workers struggling to make ends meet.
“We need Government action to tackle rising bills, along with a new deal for workers to end low-paid and insecure employment, also a social security system that gives people a proper safety net. Only Labour will deliver the change our members need, by delivering a new deal for workers in the first 100 days of coming into government.”
Usdaw’s call for a New Deal for Workers includes:
- Minimum wage of at least £12 per hour immediately, 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 over 350,000 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
The Food Foundation is a charity working to influence food policy and business practice, shaping a sustainable food system which makes healthy diets affordable and accessible for all
www.foodfoundation.org.uk
Labour’s New Deal for Workers: www.usdaw.org.uk/LaboursNDW
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter
@UsdawUnion