date: 16 July 2008

embargo: For immediate release

Low paid workers struggling to make ends meet says TUC

With local government workers and civil servants on strike today (Wednesday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'Hundreds of thousands of low paid people working in local government and the civil service are reluctantly on strike this week because they are refusing to accept pay offers way below the cost of living. With the cost of essentials like bread, milk and petrol more expensive than ever before, it's unsurprising that public sector employees are worried about how their pay is going to stretch.

'Paying public sector workers a fair and decent wage that takes account of the recent hike in the cost of living would not be inflationary and would help the many local government workers and civil servants struggling to make ends meet.'

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Press release (300 words) issued 16 Jul 2008