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date: 3 October 2008

embargo: 00.01hrs Saturday 4 October 2008

TUC urges Government to end poverty wages at 'Keep the Promise' rally

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber will today (Saturday) call on the Government to end poverty wages and pledge an extra £3 billion in benefits and tax credits to help millions of families out of poverty.

Speaking at the 'Keep the Promise' rally in Trafalgar Square, Brendan Barber will say: 'With over half of poor children living in households where at least one parent works, we in the union movement believe what happens at work is hugely important.

'We know how hard it can be for families to make ends meet. How much of a struggle it can be for parents to provide the essentials for their kids. And how difficult it is to balance work with family life.

'That's why we want to make sure employment really is the best route out of poverty. Ending the scandal of low-pay, low-skill work that traps so many women. Putting a stop to the discrimination still suffered by mothers. And making all jobs decent jobs - paying wages that really can support a family. This is the case we will be taking to Government.

'And now is the time for action. The TUC is right behind End Child Poverty's call for an extra £3 billion to be spent on benefits and tax credits for children. If that is the price of a fair society - to achieve our target of halving child poverty by the end of this decade - then we should pay it.

'Let's not forget that the real cost of child poverty is £40 billion - £600 for every man, woman and child in the country.

'So I urge the Government to keep its promise. Together let us put an end to the abomination of child poverty. Together let us heal this scar on the conscience of our society. And together let us win a better future for all our children.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The Campaign to End Child Poverty will stage a rally in Trafalgar Square, supported by singer Sophie Ellis Bextor tomorrow (Saturday) called Keep The Promise. It will call on Gordon Brown to keep the promise the Labour Government made to halve child poverty by 2010. For more information about the rally please call Sophie Davison on 07811 449 571 or Rebecca Goding on 07717 508677.

- The TUC is a member of the End Child Poverty coalition. The Campaign to End Child Poverty includes children's and other charities, social justice groups, faith-groups, trade unions, businesses and many others concerned about the unacceptably high levels of child poverty in the UK who are working together for change. For information visit www.endchildpoverty.org.uk

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk

Press release (600 words) issued 4 Oct 2008