News

UNISON condemns call to freeze minimum wage

Commenting on a manifesto launched today (5 January) by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), that calls for the minimum rate for young workers to be frozen, Dave Prentis, UNISON's General Secretary, said:

"This "manifesto" will not lead to economic recovery, it will lead to the exploitation of hundreds of thousands of workers.

"The minimum wage for young people is low, and it is disgraceful that they are being targeted by the CIPD and singled out as being, "lucky enough to have jobs".

"Vulnerable young people, who are struggling to get by on a starting rate of just £3.57 an hour, should not have to pay the price for greedy bankers' mistakes.

"Those aged over 22 are expected to feed a family and pay their bills on just £5.80 per hour - calls to freeze the National Minimum Wage will not help the 'lost generation', it will fuel it.

"It is not right that public sector workers, who selflessly keep on our heating and lighting, care for our children, our sick and vulnerable, keep our roads and streets clean and safe, every day of the year, should be made to pay for the bankers' folly with pay freezes.

"No amount of money saved could justify the number of lives and communities that will be affected if these plans goes ahead."

For more information please contact the UNISON Press Office on 0207 551 1255.

Notes to editors:

The National Minimum Wage is £5.80 per hour for workers aged 22 years and older, with a development rate of £4.83 per hour for workers aged 18-21.

£3.57 per hour is the rate for all workers under the age of 18, who are no longer of compulsory school age.

1st October sees the National Minimum Wage rates increases come into force

Those aged 22 will see an increase from £5.73 to £5.80 an hour.
The rate for 18 to 21-year-olds goes up from £4.77 to £4.83.
For 16 and 17-year-olds it goes up to £3.57 an hour from £3.53.

Gary Williams, UNISON's young members officer said, "Of course we welcome the fact the Government has stuck to making increases, but they are far too small. If we are going to get through the recession, one part of tackling it is to increase people's spending power."

UNISON is campaigning for the minimum wage to be a living wage, for apprentices to be covered by the NMW, as well as an end to the discriminatory age bandings.

Victory for minimum wage defence campaigners

A massive campaign has forced the Tories to withdraw their proposal to allow employers and employees to opt out of the national minimum wage.

The proposal was withdrawn at the last minute when the Tories were flooded with calls for the proposal to be scrapped. The campaign, co-ordinated through wageconcern.com saw a groundswell of opposition to the hare-brained idea. UNISON joined with USDAW members to lobby parliament and win this important victory.

"This proposal made it absolutely clear how the Tories view the national minimum wage," said Gary Williams, UNISON's young members officer. "We've got to remain vigilant and step up our campaign to make sure we can defend the national minimum wage from further attacks".

NMW rate announced - 7p an hour increase too low

The 7p an hour increase in the adult rate of the national minimum wage from 1 October is "disappointingly low" says James Anthony, UNISON national executive council member, speaking on behalf of national minimum wage campaigners. "Against the backdrop of recession, when we need to be putting more money into the pockets of the low-paid, it is a surprisingly low increase. I do think though we should acknowledge that the government chose to ignore the CBI call for there to be no increase at all."

He went on to say: "We are pleased that the government has responded positively to the LPC call for the adult rate to start from age 21. However, this small move actually highlights the continuing discrimination by age, preserved in the national minimum wage, which is again exempted from the provisions of the Equality Bill."

James also said: "We are very pleased to see the recommendation of the LPC that apprentices come within their remit, and that they will be campaigning hard to ensure the LPC strengthens its position on this and that the government follows this up positively."

"Our message to the government is: we want and need more bold action to raise the level and end the injustices in the national minimum wage. We believe our campaign has played an important role in challenging the proposed zero increase, in winning the change in start of the adult age band, and the proposed inclusion of apprentices. Our campaign continues."

Low Pay Commission welcomes government announcement

The Low Pay Commission welcomed the government's confirmation that, from 1 October 2009, the adult minimum wage rate will increase from £5.73 to £5.80 an hour. At the same time the Youth Development Rate will rise from £4.77 to £4.83 an hour and the minimum wage for 16- and 17-year-olds will increase from £3.53 to £3.57 an hour.

The government will consider the LPC's recommendation on introducing a minimum wage for apprentices and respond in full this summer when it sets the LPC's remit for 2010.

Sir George Bain, chair of the commission said:

"The commission made a number of other recommendations in its report, including on apprentice pay and enforcement. We believe there is a strong case for paying apprentices an apprentice minimum wage under the national minimum wage framework. We look forward to hearing the government's position on apprentice pay in our remit for the 2010 report.

"Finally, we are pleased that the government has now accepted our recommendation that 21-year-olds should be entitled to the adult rate of the minimum wage. We have long believed that 21 was the appropriate age from which the adult rate should apply."

Government approves new £5.80 minimum wage rate

The government has announced (12.5.09) new national minimum wage rates to take effect in October 2009.

low-paid workers aged 22 and over can look forward to an increase from £5.73 to £5.80 an hour
the rate for 18- to 21-year-olds will also rise from £4.77 to £4.83
the rate for 16- and 17-year-olds, the rate will go up to £3.57 an hour from £3.53.

As well as the rate changes to take effect this year, the government has accepted an LPC recommendation that the adult rate of the minimum wage should be extended to 21-year-olds. This will be implemented from October 2010.

The government will also consider the LPC's recommendation on introducing a minimum wage for apprentices and respond in full this summer when it sets the LPC's remit for 2010.

106 Not Out!

As the Low Pay Commission prepares this week to announce its recommendations on the National Minimum Wage, Early Day Motion 1163 reaches 106 signatures. The MPs who have signed are from a wide range of political parties, and the number of signatories shows a very high level of support for our campaign. If you haven't lobbied your MP yet, please do so through our site at:
http://www.minimumwage.org.uk/yourmp.asp

MPs back the national minimum wage

David Blunkett, MP has thrown his weight behind our campaign to celebrate, defend, and improve the national minimum wage. He was the first signatory to an Early Day Motion (1163) which sets out clear support for significant improvements, and notes that the current economic climate provides an opportunity to increase the spending power of the low-paid.

Other MPs who have already signed up include Tony Lloyd, David Anderson, Jon Cruddas, Lindsay Hoyle, Andrew George, and Mark Durkan.

UNISON's young member representative James Anthony said, "It's great that we have got this support but now we have to work to win more signatories. I'm calling on everyone interested in winning a fairer national minimum wage to get in touch with their MP to ask them to sign up to the early Day Motion".
Ask your MP to sign the Early Day Motion

Hurry! Last few days of UKYP survey

There are just seven days left to take part in the UK Youth Parliament's survey on the National Minimum Wage and the age-based levels of payment. You can complet4e the survey in less than two minutes. Help them reach their target of 1000 responses by going to:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=C_2bw09X_2bpcIUl3PruQ4D93Q_3d_3d

UNISON calls for rise in minimum wage

UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis has called on the Low Pay Commission to help families through the recession by increasing the National Minimum Wage.
more info

TUC presses Low Pay Commission for increase

The TUC has stated its strong opposition to calls from business for the LPC to freeze the NMW during the recession. The TUC says that with inflation predicted to rise during the current NMW year (October 2009-September 2010), any freeze would cause a fall in the real living standards of low paid workers.
more info

Child Poverty Action Group manifesto endorses minimum wage campaign

The CPAG's manifesto "Ending Child Poverty" has endorsed the campaign to increase the national minimum wage and extend its scope to apprentices.
more info

10th birthday party national minimum wage

The National Minimum Wage campaign coalition is holding a party on 1st April 2009 to celebrate the 10th birthday of the introduction of the national minimum wage.

The party will take place at the House of Commons with guests invited from coalition partners and other campaigners for an improved national minimum wage, as well as MPs.

Speakers will include those who have benefited from the national minimum wage and those campaigning for improvements, including keynote speaker Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary.

If your organisation would like to send a representative, please send an email to minimumwage@unison.co.uk stating the name of your organisation and giving a link to its website.