Last month, Usdaw welcomed a much-needed increase in the real Living Wage rates, when the Living Wage Foundation announced a near 5% increase, making the new rates for over-18s £14.10 an hour across the UK and £15.45 in London.
On Monday 16 November, at 6pm, Usdaw general secretary Joanne Thomas will be speaking on a Labour Unions (TULO) national Zoom call. It will focus on the importance of the living wage and equalising National Minimum Wage rates for young workers. Register at: https://labourunions.org.uk/livingwage/
Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “This is the 25th year of the Living Wage campaign and it has made an immense contribution in helping to end the scourge of poverty pay. Through our negotiations with employers, as well as our minimum wage campaigning, the fight for a real living wage for all workers continues to be a key priority for Usdaw. The new real Living Wage rates are a welcome boost for the lowest-paid workers.
“On taking power, Labour changed the remit of the Low Pay Commission, so that they take account of the cost of living and work towards ending rip-off youth rates. We welcomed the above-inflation increases in statutory rates announced in the Budget, but we were disappointed they didn’t keep pace with the real Living Wage or further close the gap between the youth and adult rate. This is a manifesto commitment that we expect Labour to keep and this must be reflected in the remit that they put to the Low Pay Commission for setting 2028’s minimum wage rates.
“Alongside hourly rates, security of hours every week is crucial to providing an income that meets the cost of living. So, we are looking to the Government to ensure that the right to a guaranteed hours contract applies to every worker, as promised in Labour’s manifesto. It is only right that the hours normally worked are in the contract.
“Labour is delivering the new deal for workers that Usdaw long campaigned for. If delivered in full, the Employment Rights Act will help secure economic growth by improving productivity and stop rogue employers undercutting those who treat their staff properly, while giving workers security, respect and the decency of an income they can live on.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest with around 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also represents many workers in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
Living Wage Foundation: www.livingwage.org.uk/
Labour Unions (Trade Union and Labour Organisation) (TULO) represents the eleven trade unions who are affiliated to the Labour Party, bringing the voices of four million workers and their families to the heart of the party https://labourunions.org.uk/
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion