Real Living Wage uprating welcomed by Usdaw

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “The new real Living Wage rates, which are based on the cost of living, are welcome and clearly show that the Tories’ so-called ‘National Living Wage’ is nothing of the sort. We call on employers to take notice of the new rates and negotiate increases in their base pay to reflect the cost of living. 

“We are also pleased that the new Labour Government has already changed the remit of the Low Pay Commission, so that they take account of the cost of living and work toward ending rip-off youth rates. The forthcoming Budget provides a perfect opportunity for the Government to close the gap between the so-called National Living Wage and the real Living Wage. We believe the Government should be bold when setting the National Living Wage rate in the Budget and to also tackle rip-off youth rates. 

“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, while giving workers security, respect and the decency of 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.”