Commenting on the proposed increase in the minimum wage,
UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said:
“We welcome the above inflation rise but I defy anyone in
Government to to try to make ends meet on £4.50 an hour.
Because the increase comes from such a low base, it still falls far
short of UNISON’s £6 an hour living wage target. This is the
minimum that research shows you need just to buy the basics.
“The new minimum wage will still leave many people reliant on tax
credits to boost their income to a reasonable level and it is the
taxpayers who have to pick up the tab for poor paying employers.
“We welcome the review into pay for 16 and 17 year olds, but 2
years is a long time to wait. It is also disappointing that there has
been no move to abolish the rate for young people between 18
and 21 or any attempt to close the gap. Ò
ends