Living Wage Week: Usdaw calls on employers to pay all workers at least the real Living Wage

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary said: “The Living Wage Foundation does a great job and throughout the Tory years in Government, showed that their fake living wage was nothing of the sort. Labour’s new remit for the Low Pay Commission has resulted in progress towards delivering a statutory real living wage and they’ve started on the road to ending rip-off youth rates. We urge employers to negotiate pay with trade unions and go beyond statutory minimums.

“Wage rates alone are not enough to ensure that workers have an income they can live on, as recognised by the Living Wage Foundation’s ‘Living Hours’ campaign for more secure employment. Labour in government has already started to deliver the new deal for workers that Usdaw long campaigned for. The Employment Rights Bill will help secure economic growth by improving productivity after years of stagnation and stop rogue employers undercutting those who treat their staff properly. Labour’s Bill will also give workers security, respect and an income they can live on. 

“These are welcome protections for workers that should help them through future economic shocks. This is the transformational change that the country voted for, after 14 years of Tory chaos, austerity and attacks on workers’ rights. Alongside stronger collective bargaining and a focus from employers on this issue, we can make real progress in improving workers’ living standards.”