USDAW urges minimum wage of at least £10 per hour

In its oral evidence to the Low Pay Commission, USDAW suggested that the minimum wage should rise to at least £10 per hour, up from its current rate of £8.72 per hour.

As well as the £10 per hour minimum wage request, USDAW also suggested a minimum contract of 16 hours per week, that reflects normal hours worked and a ban on zero-hour contracts; better sick pay for all workers and a proper social security system as it believes Universal Credit does not provide a safety net.

The union also urged protection at work, job security including day one employment rights for unfair dismissal and redundancy, fair treatment and equality for all workers and an end to rogue employers refusing to engage with trade unions.

These recommendations will be considered by the Low Pay Commission when it decides what changes, if any, should be made to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates on 1 April 2021.

General secretary Paddy Lillis said: “The coronavirus pandemic has clearly demonstrated how reliant the country is on low-paid key workers.

“Millions of low-paid workers have provided essential services to help ensure the country is fed, healthy and safe through the lockdown and will continue to do so. USDAW members employed in our supermarkets, distribution warehouses, food processing sites and home delivery operations welcomed the key worker status, but that respect and appreciation must not fade into the background when this national crisis passes.

“There must be lasting and fundamental changes to the way society views our lowest paid workers. We need a new deal for the workers: a minimum wage of at least £10 per hour, an end to insecure employment, respect for shopworkers and action to ensure that retail jobs are no longer underpaid and undervalued.”

He added that younger workers need more protection.

“Going to work should mean a decent standard of living for all workers, not least young workers. Under 25s are more likely to be paid less than older colleagues, even when doing the same job. They also often work hours that are not guaranteed in their contract, so they really need fairer and better pay alongside protection against insecure work.

“Usdaw has campaigned for years to abolish youth rates. We continue to campaign for a national minimum wage of at least £10 per hour for all ages and call on the Government to tackle insecure employment contracts.”

Independent retailers recently expressed concerns over a minimum wage hike, with the Low Pay Commission asked to assess the affordability and effects of an increase in April 2021 to a National Living Wage (NLW) rate of £9.21 per hour.