National minimum wage to rise in October

(12/05/09) The national minimum wage is to rise by 7p to £5.80 an hour in October, the government announced yesterday.

The rate for 18 to 21-year-olds will increase by 6p to £4.83 and, for 16 and 17-year-olds, it will rise by 4p to £3.57.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: "I am pleased that the government hasn't listened to the CBI and others who wanted a zero-pence increase. Or those who want to allow it to wither on the vine.

"But we believe that the minimum wage should be higher – an extra 7p an hour won't go far to help pay the rising costs of essential items such as food, fuel and housing. Everyone knows that the lowest paid spend the highest proportion of their income on the basics of life.

"A minimum wage of £7.45 an hour would give many more workers a decent living and go some way to helping the government hit its eradication of poverty pledge."

The government also announced that, from October 2010, 21-year-olds will be covered by the adult minimum wage, which is a victory for UNISON and our campaign partners.

And the union has also welcomed the Low Pay Commission recommendation that all apprentices should be covered by the minimum wage.

Young members' representative on the NEC, James Anthony, said: "It's really good news that government is recommending the inclusion of apprentices within the national minimum wage.

"UNISON, together with our campaign partners, has made strong arguments about the protection of these workers, and the Low Pay Commission has taken on board many of our arguments."

Press release

National minimum wage campaign site

Young members in UNISON

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