UNISON, The UKs largest public service union, is calling for the National
Minimum Wage to rise substantially in October 2012, before moving to a
living wage* of •À_8 an hour for all UK workers. The unions submission to the
Low Pay Commission argues that the national minimum wage (NMW) should
not be frozen, or cut, or the economy will fail to recover.
The lowest paid are hit hardest by rising inflation, and the union fears that
attempts by self-interested business lobbyists to prevent a decent rise, will
throw millions more into poverty.
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:
A freeze or cut in the minimum wage would not only hit poor families hard, it
would be bad for business, as it will hit spending power and stunt growth and
recovery. As inflation increases and the Governments cuts run deep, low paid
workers are being driven into poverty. A small rise would be outstripped by
the rising cost of essentials like food, fuel and transport. That is why UNISON
is calling for a substantial increase and a move towards a more realistic living
wage of •À_8 an hour.
Despite the claims of self-interested business lobbyists, there no evidence
that the NMW has caused unemployment in the last decade. And today, it is
the Governments economic strategy that is throwing people onto the dole.
And we have to be vigilant. The NMW should act as a safety net, and bosses
should not be allowed to get away with fiddling their way round their
responsibilities. In home care alone, there is a growing problem of agencies
driving down paid hours and not paying travelling time between home visits to
the elderly and disabled. These low paid, mainly women, workers, deserve to
earn a decent hours wage for a decent hours work.
Those earning the least should not have to suffer the most because of the
recession. We desperately need an increase in the minimum wage rise to
restore the balance of fairness and to help to stimulate growth across the
economy.
*The Living Wage is an hourly rate, set independently, every year. It is
calculated according to cost of living and gives the minimum pay rate required
for a worker to provide their family with the essentials of life. In London the
current rate is 8.30 per hour. Outside of London the current rate is 7.20.
NMW Rates from 1 October 2011:
The NMW rates are reviewed each year by the Low Pay Commission and from
1 October 2011:
the main rate for workers aged 21 and over will increase to 6.08 the 18-20
rate will increase to 4.98,
the 16-17 rate for workers above school leaving age, but under 18 will
increase to 3.68
the apprentice rate, for apprentices under 19, or 19 or over ,and in the first
year of their apprenticeship will increase to 2.60
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