Employers and government need to pick up the pace on living wage, says TUC

date: 02 November 2015
embargo: For immediate release

Employers and government need to pick up the pace on living wage, says TUC

The Living Wage Foundation has today (Monday) announced an increase in the living wage by 40p to £8.25 per hour. The London Living Wage has increased by 25p to £9.40 per hour.

Commenting on the increase, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“This rise in the Living Wage is welcome. It’s great to see more and more employers sign up to the living wage, but we should remember that nearly six million people still earn less than this.

“More companies should do the right thing and become Living Wage employers. Adopting this important minimum standard brings valuable reputational and personnel benefits that help to make it affordable.

“But we also need strong unions who can negotiate with employers and win the Living Wage for their members too – not just rely on employer goodwill. 

“The government needs to do more to promote the Living Wage and ensure everyone in the public sector is paid it. Both employers and the government need to pick up the pace and get Britain on a real Living Wage.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
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Michael Pidgeon  T: 020 7467 1372  M: 07717 531150  E: mpidgeon@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson (Mon to Wed)  T: 020 7467 1337  M: 07900 910624  E: egibson@tuc.org.uk
Kay Atwal (Thu and Fri)  T: 020 7467 1385  M: 07941 547469  E: katwal@tuc.org.uk